Business As Usual

Chapters

Ch.1: Rollout
Ch.2: Supply and Demand
Ch.3: Mass Marketing
Ch.4: Corporate Espionage
Ch.5: Boom
Ch.6: Bust
Ch.7: Acquisition

Ch.1: Rollout

Applejack had never seen the La Te Da Spa quite so full.

Granted, she could count the number of times she had been inside at all on one hand, but it was still quite the shock to see the entire lobby so completely full. The line of women wound its way around marble columns and ornate statues, terminating at a statuesque beauty with porcelain skin and long purple hair, a look of equal parts frustration and desperation creeping across her elegantly made up features.

Applejack had stepped back the moment they had reached the front, her fingers crossed and buried in the pockets of her jeans. From the second they entered the packed waiting room a faint hope had begun to take hold of her, one that only grew during the agonizingly long wait to reach the check-in desk.

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON’T HAVE ANY SPACE‽‽”

The tan blonde tried her best suppress a smirk, silently scolding herself for feeling relief over something that made Rarity so upset.

There was a slender young woman standing across the counter that Applejack recognized as either Lotus Blossom or Aloe Vera. She had more or less given up on remembering which was which, and it hardly mattered as long as she could hold up under Rarity’s usual routine.

She had already made it past faux-outrage, next up was pleading.

“I’m like really sorry Rarity, we’re like totally full. It’ll be at least a couple hours before we can let in anyone else.”

“Buh- But I’m your best customer! Surely you can find just a little extra space for the two of us.”

Applejack flinched as her friend gestured toward her, but Aloe Blossom hadn’t bothered to look.

“Rarity we don’t even have room for one of you. You know we would never turn you away if we could avoid it, but the fact is there’s no space in the spa, were totally swamped.”

Then came her last resort.

Applejack looked on as her friend leaned forward, bridging the considerable difference in height between herself and Vera Lotus, getting as close as the countertop would permit to the still placid beautician.

“You know darling, I would really appreciate it if you could check again, maybe just… One. Last. Time?”

Even from behind Applejack knew what the spa clerk was seeing. A flutter of sapphire blue eyes, a perfectly innocent opportunity to see down Rarity’s low-cut blouse, all while she played ‘innocently’ with a single curl of lilac hair.

For the uninitiated it was quite persuasive, but for Rarity the spa was practically a second home and Applejack’s mystery woman seemed decidedly unmoved.

“I’m sorry Rarity, you’re going to have to either wait or leave.”

“But – but-.“

Sensing that she was needed the farm girl threw a well muscled arm around Rarity’s waist and began to pull.

“C’mon Rare, if they’re full they’re full, we can find some other way to relax.”

Rarity growled. When it was important to her she could be quite tenacious, but Applejack persisted, dragging the taller woman along with her towards the door.

“I’m not gonna haf’ta put ya over my shoulder, am I?” She could feel her friend’s resistance fade a bit, no doubt remembering that this wouldn’t be the first time she had followed through on the threat.

“We can stop by that café ‘cross the street, I know how much ya love their brownies.”

Rarity gave a murmur of ascent, but Applejack was well aware she had not heard the last of this.

“I cannot believe the spa kicked us out!”

Rarity’s voice barely carried across their table, suffocated by the din of the unusually crowded café.

“They didn’t kick us out, they were just full.”

“It’s the principle Applejack! It’s a rejection! An affront to our reputation, to our very status as pillars of the community! Why I have half a mind to –. “

“Mind if I take a piece’a that?”

Rarity sighed and slumped forward, pushing her plate across the table into Applejack’s eager reach.

“You were really lookin’ forward ta this huh?”

“Yessssss.” she groaned “I don’t know why but I’ve been absolutely exhausted lately. I can barely get out of bed in the morning, I guess I was just hoping some time at the spa would make me feel myself again.”

“Not surprisin’, between runnin’ the boutiques, designin’ new outfits, all the fashion shows, and takin’ care’a Sweetie Belle, I think you’re the only person I know who works harder than I do. What ya really need is a day off.”

“This WAS my day off” Rarity pushed herself up, meeting Applejack’s gaze with a look of practiced despair.

Applejack knew she didn’t need to say anything, she could see through Rarity like water, she knew there was more to her ‘confession’.

“Well, half of a day off…” Rarity admitted after a moment under the freckled woman’s scrutiny.

“Mhmmm.”

“I closed the boutique early.”

“Mhmmm.”

“And I guess I may have spent a couple hours on an outfit for Starlight.”

Applejack took another chunk of brownie, her green eyes still boring holes through Rarity’s composure.

“Well it doesn’t matter! Those things have never bothered me before!”

“Yeah but you’ve bin pushin’ yourself for years now, you’re getting’ old….er-.“

Applejack felt her words catch in her throat, Rarity’s piercing blue eyes were narrowed, shooting her a look that turned her blood to ice.

“I am going to pretend that I didn’t hear that.” she responded, her voice now absolutely frigid.

“The REAL issue is that I can’t relax. Ponyville is supposed to be my home, but lately there are all these - these people!” Rarity gestured around to the normally tranquil café, currently packed practically to bursting with total strangers.

“There’s no peace anymore, there’s no quiet, everything is crowded! The spa, the salon, even my café.”

“They’re just tourists shug, they’re not hurtin’ anyone.”

“You live out on your farm, you barely need to deal with them, but the whole town just feels… different.”

As she spoke, Rarity signalled a miserable looking waiter dashing between customers. He was carrying two tables worth of food in either hand, and somehow managed to look even more despondent as he caught sight of Rarity’s upraised hand.

“You lived in big cities before.”

“Its not the same, these people are weird.” A slight scowl passed over her lips. “Sometimes it feels like they’re…staring.”

“I thought you loved -.” Applejacks eyes darted around the restaurant, taking on a hushed tone. “That kinda’ attention.”

“Its just not the same.”

Their waiter soon returned, leaving the bill between the two women as he raced towards another table. Before the slip of paper had even made contact with the surface Rarity had snatched it up, her other hand already thumbing through her purse.

She smiled. “I’ll take care of this one darling.”

“Rare we ordered one plate, and I ate most of it, I’ll get it.”

“Applejack please, I invited you out, and all you’ve gotten to do is stand in lines and listen to me complain. This is the least I can do.”

“C’mon, I love hangin’ out with ya, doesn’t matter what we do.”

Rarity quirked an eyebrow. “Oh really? you would’ve loved spending hours getting your nails done with me? Being wrapped in seaweed? Maybe even getting a facial?”

“Course I would.” she replied, attempting to suppress her blush. “Was lookin’ forward to it all day! Just ask Big Mac.”

Rarity giggled and rose to her feet, laying out an assortment of coins and bills on the table.

“We really must start auditioning replacements for the ‘Element of Honesty’.”

“You can get to it on your next day off.”

“Finally!” Rarity sighed as she packed an immaculate cheese omelette into a plastic container.

It sat in the fridge next to a brown paper bag with Sweetie Belle’s name written across it, a little heart dotting the “I”. Normally she made their breakfast fresh in the morning, but Rarity was determined to get something close to a full nights sleep, and waking up early tomorrow seemed almost impossible the way she felt now.

Everything else was ready, she had showered, put her sister to bed, and changed into her nightgown. She felt every muscle in her body shriek as she made her way up the first couple of steps, but her day was almost over.

But soon she paused. There was a knock at the door.

Whoever it was had no business expecting her to see them at this hour, whatever it was it could wait until tomorrow.

As she renewed her assent, she heard the knock again, but this time there was something different about it. It had a distinct rhythm to it. Her grip on the bannister loosened for a moment, it would be rude to ignore someone who came all this way in the middle of the night…

But it didn’t matter, she could barely stand, she needed rest, she needed…

A third time the knocking came, the same weird rhythm as the time before, but her decision was made. A lady would never be so impolite as to leave someone waiting outside in the dead of night. She would go down, meet her guest, and politely turn them away, and that was all there was to it.

Whoever was waiting on the other side, she could barely make them out through the contortions of the stained glass, and opening the door did little to aid in her recognition.

It was a man… or more accurately a boy, barely 19 by the look of him. He was only about shoulder height on her, with black hair and brown eyes. His only remarkable feature seemed to be the look of apprehension bordering on terror he wore on his face as he looked up at her.

“Can I help you?” she asked, trying her best to conceal her impatience.

His eyes darted away from hers as she spoke to him but expanded significantly as they fell upon her nightgown. He made no effort to disguise what had caught his interest as he struggled to force out a coherent sentence.

What a little creep.

“I – um… I paid for – I’m – I’m supposed to escort you…?”

“I think you have the wrong house.” the door inched closed as she spoke, her tolerance wearing increasingly thin.

“N- no – hold on! I have something.” he began to rummage through a black bag he held in his right hand, but Rarity was officially done being polite.

“I don’t have time for this, come back tomorrow, in the morning, and don’t let me catch you knocking on my door this late ever again.”

He produced a scrap of crumpled paper just as the door began to swing shut. “Recherche, you’re due to perform tonight, I’m here to escort you!” he blurted out.

“That’s not – I’m not…” Her hand moved to her forehead, her vision blurred, the entire world seemed to lurch violently around her.

“I am due to perform?”

Rarity felt every muscle in her body relax at once, she collapsed forward into the boy’s arms, and felt him struggle to remain upright under her weight. Her body felt warm, she felt…she felt…amazing.

As quickly as she toppled, she pulled herself upright again. He was still staring at her, nervousness seeming to pour out of every pore.

“Oh my goodness, a personal escort, what a little gentleman you are!” she said pinching his cheek.

He passed the black bag to her, hands shaking violently as he thrust his arms out in front of him. “I – uh – I brought your stuff, they said you’d know what to do…”

“Of course darling! I’m so sorry to have kept you waiting, just give me a moment to get ready.”

Recherche felt a fog around her mind as she danced her way toward the stairs. There was a nagging feeling at the back of her mind, like a voice too distant to make out clearly. Every step she took she heard it call out to her, only to have it be smothered under a feeling of total bliss radiating through every limb.

Her motions felt instinctive but the thoughts that guided them were fuzzy. She knew she was going somewhere, why else would she need an escort? The where was unclear to her but the progress towards it felt incredible.

She twirled and caught a glimpse of her gentleman caller, he was taking his first tentative steps into her home. The voice shrieked, so loudly that it was almost intelligible, but once again it faded, and a wide smile spread itself across her face.

“You wait right there love, I’ll be down in just a moment.”

“Uh – you.” He croaked. “You can get ready down here - It’ll probably be faster - I don’t mind.”

Recherche paused for a moment, her mind going over each individual word as if they were in a different language. The voice was more distant still, its timbre severe but its content incomprehensible.

“If you’re sure you don’t mind then I guess there’s no reason not to.”

She spun on her heel and made her way over to the closest mirror, smaller than the one in her room of course, but the whole process was so natural to her that it was practically useless anyway.

Her hand disappeared into the bag and reappeared holding an entire salon’s worth of makeup.

With preternatural skill her left hand ran a tube of lipstick along her mouths surface, changing her plump lips from pink to black in a single stroke. Her right drew a pair of dark half-moons over her eyes, while a mascara brush suspended in mid air by a pale blue aura extended her every eye lash. Within a moment’s notice her face was transformed, ‘imperfections’, if they had even existed had vanished, the visage staring back at her was a masterpiece of practiced precision.

But she wasn’t done.

Like a snake shedding its skin her nightgown slipped from her body. As she leaned down, her eye met the reflection of her visitor in the mirror, his own eyes wide as saucers and his jaw nearly to the floor.

He was just precious, utterly adorable.

Her hands once again dove into the black canvas, this time returning with a jumble of shimmering purple fabric to match her hair and an assortment of golden rings, some linked together, others singular.

Recherche stared down at the constituent parts of an outfit. She recognized them… barely, had she worn this before? Had she made this? Her head still felt a bit fuzzy, but she was certain she had seen this outfit before, she was –.

“Um excuse me, I – I could help you with that…”

Her thoughts snapped back to reality at the sound of his voice, realizing that she had been all but ignoring her guest. “Oh my, aren’t you sweet, If it isn’t too much trouble then I suppose you could –.“

The distance between them vanished in an instant. She could feel his breath coming in nervous fits on her back as he reached around her and grabbed a pair of panties from her waiting hands.

“Ah – I’ll just – uhm.” Her gaze met his in their shared reflection, a slight smile formed on her lips and grew larger as his face turned bright red. He went to his knees, laying the bottoms on the floor for her to step into. She felt his hands pass along her legs as he pulled them up to herrear, trailing along the length of her outer thigh, his proximity to her increasing as he inched his way back to his full height. Once they were situated, she pulled a pair of fine mesh thigh-highs up each leg, bending in half and feeling his hand caressing her backside as she did.

His trembling hands worked their way around her torso next, securing a series of golden rings together around her. A fine translucent veil draped over her lower half reaching her knees while she busied herself dividing 6 similar rings between her wrists, barely taking notice as his arms wrapped themselves around her and pressed himself up against her body.

It took him a while to figure out her top. It wasn’t his fault of course, the clasp was in the front, and from his position she suspected he could scarcely see what he was doing. She kept herself occupied putting on her earrings and a pair of fingerless elbow gloves, waiting bemused as his hands worked their way up and down her chest, barely containing a fraction of her significant bust in either one. She could feel warmth radiating out from her chest as he struggled, a blush coming over her face, she suspected he was a bit embarrassed as she felt his attempts become more frantic, his hands accelerating as they continued to pass over her light pink nipples.

Then he stopped.

Recherche looked down and saw her hand wrapped around his, her nails digging into his skin. The voice at the back of her mind had returned, faint but still audible. She could see a look on her face in the mirror, the pink blush of her cheeks seemed almost unnatural against her gritted teeth and arched eyebrows, and the look of abject terror along the face of her little helper.

Moments seemed to stretch on for hours. She felt paralyzed, as if her body were a stranger to her, her mind screamed at her to release his hand, but something kept her holding on, gripping tighter, heart hammering –.

“C-can you let go? You’re hurting my hand.”

“Oh my goodness! I’m so sorry dear, I don’t – I don’t know what came over me.”

His look was still apprehensive as she tore her hand from his, he was staring down at it, littered with deep red marks where just seconds ago she had dug into him like a feral animal. Why had she done that? What was wrong with her?

Her voice came out shaky and uncertain. “I think – why don’t I finish the top darling?” She asked, finally breaking away. “It won’t do to arrive late, I’d hate to get my chaperone in trouble.”

His face, just moments ago utterly worshipful was now suspicious and strained. “Yeah, I’ll go get your jacket.”

His voice was cold, and Recherche felt a hole in the pit of her stomach as he turned away, guilt gnawing away at her while she fastened her top.

As she slipped on a pair of tall purple stilettos, she felt the long dark trench coat drape itself over her shoulders.

“Its chilly out tonight.”

“Oh, how thoughtful!” she chirped, wrapping it around her and trying to bridge the awkwardness.

She opened the door and offered her companion her arm. “Shall we?”

Reluctantly he accepted her offer, and they walked out of the house.

The walk was uncomfortable.

The town was surprisingly populated at night. Almost all the faces they passed seemed to belong to strangers, but their numbers thinned in short order as the pair went on.

The roads they took felt vaguely familiar but seemed to see virtually no traffic. Despite traveling over uneven ground she felt herself glide along the ill maintained path, heels navigating around rocks and roots as if they barely existed. However, in spite the lack of effort she clung to her companion, holding him tightly, hoping to dull the aura of unease that still seemed to radiate off of him.

By the time they arrived it seemed to have worked. Her minder had wrapped an arm around her, his hand resting on her lower back, no doubt to help her feel safe as they passed through the darkness. When they finally stopped it was only with reluctance that he pried himself from her, making his way to a thick metal door embedded in a large grey building standing in the middle of nowhere. Town wasn’t visible in any direction from where they were, the entire area seemed unincorporated save for this one looming cube blending into the inky blackness.

He approached the door and knocked, she quivered as she heard it, the same knock she had heard when he first arrived to pick her up.

The door slid open slightly and a deep voice emerged, distinct even against pulsating music that leaked through the tiny aperture. She couldn’t hear what they were saying but noticed her escort point over at her. the door closed shortly after, before opening again entirely, revealing an almost irresponsibly large man who silently waved the pair inside.

Recherche was awestruck as she entered, everything was simultaneously familiar and foreign. The music had grown louder as she approached and now surrounded her entirely, the room was dark save for glowing lights affixed to virtually every surface, providing just barely enough illumination to follow the path towards a door at the back.

She followed her guide as if attached to him by a string, her eyes wandering over the dimly lit surroundings. She noticed a long stage flowing from behind a curtain at the back into the centre of the room, terminating with a large metal rod near the middle of the room.

When they reached the back of the building their convoy stopped, without prompting a tall, well dressed man with slick red hair emerged from the back room and waved off the behemoth who had brought them.

The moment she laid eyes on him Recherche felt her body tense. Her feet spread themselves shoulder width apart, her back straightened and her hands clasped themselves behind her. Her eyes locked onto him, she barely noticed the motions her body went through, hardly taking note of the fact that her focus was now totally fixed upon what was directly in front of her, that her body was suddenly unresponsive. There was a faint tingle in the back of her mind, the voice having been silent for so long that its flickering to life however briefly came as a surprise to her, but one that her new posture did not reflect.

“Cutting it pretty close there huh?” he asked, throwing an arm around her erstwhile chaperone as he did.

“Oh, sorry I guess I might have lost track of time a little bit.”

“Bah! Don’t sweat it pal, for how much you shelled out you probably wanted to get your money’s worth eh? How was it?”

“She was great! Or… mostly great.” He held his hand up toward the dapper gentleman and Recherche felt her stomach knot itself. The mans expression turned to worry for a moment before he waved at something behind her.

“Ah the curse of the early adopter, well these things do tend to happen when you’re dealing with a new product.” As he continued to speak Recherche saw someone pass her by. The woman was as tall as she was but much thinner, a veil of long pink hair reached down below her waist obscuring her almost entirely so that all that could be seen of her were a pair of long tan legs in fishnet stockings.

“This young man seems to have injured his hand while providing us a deeply necessary service.” He spoke, taking the boys hand and holding it up to show their new guest.

“I’d like you to do whatever it takes to help with his recuperation.”

“Oh my goodness, you poor dear.” Came the woman’s gentle voice, taking his injured hand in hers. “Come with me and I’ll make sure you feel all better.”

Recherche watched as the pink haired intruder led her escort away, her heart sinking with every step as they exited her narrow field of view without even a second glance in her direction. She was soon alone with the red haired man, her rigid pose belying the feeling of bitter disappointment she felt over her sudden abandonment.

Until, without warning, he approached her, his hand reaching out and pressing itself against her forehead.

The sensation was strange.

It started where his palm had met her face and cascaded downward until it reached her toes. She wasn’t quite numb, but she felt…separate from herself. She could ‘see’ him as he took her face in his hand, ‘felt’ his grip on her cheeks as he pulled her closer, inspecting her emotionless visage, his light green eyes peering deeply into hers, seemingly looking for something.

Soon he was satisfied, or seemed to be. She ‘felt’ his hand on her back, exerting the tiniest amount of pressure, but she offered no resistance. like a passenger in her own body she watched as the world around her became simple scenery, traveling past her as they moved through a door and into a dark room.

When the hand left her she stopped, her eyes now fixated on a brick wall that happened to be standing directly in front of her.

As she stared she heard two voices behind her, the mans voice but doubled, as if he was speaking to himself. She could make out each and every word but they passed right through her, hearing without listening as they carried on as though they were totally alone.

“How’d it go?”

“Apparently the kid nearly got his hand torn off.”

“Ouch, did you give him a refund?” The voices laughed.

“I took care of him, gave him one of the others.”

“Think the performance will go alright?”

“Yeah it just needs a touch up, we’ll get it done before we send it home.”

She continued to stare ahead, motionless until she once again felt a hand touch upon her forehead. She felt warm a breath on her ear, something was whispered into it, she didn’t catch it, or couldn’t understand it, but either way she suddenly felt the sensation spread across her again.

Her body felt like her own.

She turned and saw him standing there, looking directly at her, smiling.

The fuzziness was gone, replaced by clarity and single-minded determination. The voice in the back of her mind had been silenced entirely, for the first time in what felt like an eternity she knew what she needed to do.

“Ready?” He asked as he stepped aside.

“I was born ready darling, mustn’t keep my audience waiting.”

He trailed behind her until she reached a nearby set of steps. There was a slap on her ass as she ascended but she thought nothing of it as she took her position, waiting patiently behind the curtain.

The music that had been filling the air quieted for the first time since she had arrived, overtaken by an enthusiastic voice now blaring throughout the building.

“Back by popular demand for her fourth consecutive night on stage, the remarkably radiant and rapacious Recherche!”

The curtains opened and she began to strut her way forward, a feeling of ecstasy bubbling up within her as she made her way to the front. The spotlight was blinding at the end of the stage, but she could still make out an ocean of eyes staring up at her from almost every angle.

Her hand gripped the pole, the music started, and her dance began.

Slowly she dragged her hand along the cool metal, circling the pole as a shark circled its prey, each motion deliberate and purposeful, occurring in perfect tandem with the beat of the song. As the tempo began to rise her movements matched it, each one more dramatic and athletic than the one that preceded it.

When it next slowed, she found herself suspended metres from the ground, hands holding tightly to the top of the pole, legs spread wide, drifting gracefully downward and feeling like Celestia herself descending from the heavens. When it picked up again, she was upside down, long purple locks pooling underneath her, an inverted vision of faces with gaping jaws and wide smiles sending a thrill up her spine.

She danced with the tall piece of metal as if it were a lover, grinding up against it, feeling the cold surface turn warm with her own body heat, the affection of the crowd substituting for the affection of her inanimate dance partner. She would anchor herself to it and leap through the air, twirling along its length, drinking ravenous looks from her audience.

Soon she returned to the ground, folding forward at the waist, thrusting her rear out for everyone to see. As she reached the bottom, she pressed her tongue to the steel, running her way up its height, tasting her own passion as she went and hearing the crowd go wild as she returned to her full height.

But she still knew there was something missing.

As the song approached its climax anticipation welled up within her.

She reached the pole’s apex one last time, legs coiled around it, her thighs slick with excitement, sliding down in a series of circles. When she met the ground she performed one final flourish, seeing her final position clearly in her mind and working her way towards it. When the music stopped, she stopped with it, arms above her head, still gripping the pole tightly. Her back resting against it, legs spread eagle facing the front of the stage.

Her breathing was heavy, the purple fabric of her outfit clung to her quivering form. For a brief moment there was total silence, the music gone, the crowd quiet.

Then all at once they were ecstatic.

The air filled with applause. Hoots and hollers, whistling and cheering. All of it blending together into an incomprehensible symphony of adulation.

But something was still missing.

The voice re-emerged from the speakers. “What do you think folks, are you glad she’s back?”

The applause intensified, going from loud to outright thunderous.

“Well before she gets back to business, she’s going to need to see just how appreciative you all are!”

Then Recherche saw it. Bits began to rain down onto the stage from the crowd. Her already quick breath became ragged, she felt electricity run through her body. Exhilaration turned her bottoms from damp to drenched and she did all she could not to collapse to the floor.

By the time the downpour had subsided Recherche had mostly regained her composure, still holding the position she had adopted at the end of her performance, but now feeling utterly euphoric as stragglers continued to pelt her stage with material gratitude. She felt scraps of their appreciation stuck to her moist skin, sent to her by a few overzealous patrons. Others had reached onto the stage and made their deposits more directly, taking handfuls of her supple flesh as they forced their recognition upon her. She was soon left with green scraps of paper peaking out of every article of clothing she wore, quietly trembling and quivering as she felt it brush against her with every breath.

Soon she heard the voice return again. “Well it looks like everybody’s having a good time so far!”

There was still more cheering, but the voice persisted. “Well don’t worry folks, we’ve got her here all night, as long as you’ve got bits, she’s got dancing to do!”

Music began to fade in again, a different song, but one she knew just as well as the first. A low moan escaped from her lips as she once again rose to her feet.

“She REALLY appreciates your generosity!”

Recherche’s hips began to sway, the sound once again overtaking her, she was ready to go.

The entire room was blurry.

Rarity saw her arm stretch out in front of her, groping at an alarm clock that was little more than dark smear along her reduced line of sight, the shrill repetitive tone feeling like a drill against her aching head. She turned the clock towards her, waiting for the numbers to come into focus, praying silently that she had more time to sleep.

12:30

“TWELVE-THIRTY‽‽”

The covers flew off the bed in an instant.

“Oh my gosh the boutique! I overslept!! I overslept by 7 hours!!!”

She shot out of her bed like a rocket, leaping into a sprint as her feet met the hard wood of her floor, only to collapse a moment later, suddenly on her hands and knees, her vision fading in and out, her entire body screaming.

“UGHHHHH, what is wrong with meeeee‽”

She threw an arm over her bed and forced herself upright, staggering into the bathroom and propping herself up on the counter.

“its fine, everything’s fine, nobody comes early in the morning anyway, I can just rush down and – and – OH SWEET CELESTIA!!”

Rarity barely recognized the woman she saw in the mirror. Her ivory skin was smeared with makeup, leaving her perfect features buried under a work of impressionist art. She wasn’t wearing her nightgown, or even any underwear, and as she continued to stare at the stranger with whom she now shared a bathroom she realized that she – she smelled… and she felt… sticky.

Scarcely believing what she saw she raised a hand to her face, tracing it along dark streaks of mascara that had made their way down her cheeks. “I can’t – I can’t go down there like this! How could this happen?”

She ran her hands through the knotted tangle that had just yesterday been a head of meticulously maintained curls. She remembered going out with AppleJack, coming home, and then she – she.

Her eyes narrowed, she felt lightheaded for a moment. Her hand pressed up against her face as the feeling intensified, barely managing to maintain her balance.

The sound of her own voice surprised her, It came out without warning, without her even meaning to speak and in a tone that she barely recognized. “I was so tired that I passed out as soon as I got home. I forgot to shower, I forgot to wash off my makeup, all I did was sleep.”

She buried her face I her palms, her voice returning to normal before becoming a low whimper.

“How could I be such an idiot? This is going to take me hours to fix.”

Rarity stood for a moment, feelings of guilt and anger rolling over her, until finally she took a long deep breath and focused.

She turned to the shower and twisted the tap, setting herself down on the tub and running a hand under the warm water that began to fill the basin.

“Maybe Applejack was right.” She froze mid thought. “About the time off, and absolutely nothing else” she quickly corrected herself.

“This will be good for me, a day off is probably just what I need.”

She swung her legs over the precipice and lowered herself into the rising pool of steaming water.

“I’ll get some rest, relax, and everything will be better tomorrow.”

Author's Note

OK round two, trying something longer. I'm not super confident in this idea, might be retooled a bit, but it felt like it was "done" enough to put up at least as a proof of concept so here it is. Thanks for reading <3, gimme feedback or ideas if you got any cause things aren't quite set in stone yet.

Ch.2: Supply and Demand

Pinkie Pie adored days like these.

Without a single cloud in the sky she felt the warmth of the sun’s rays wash over her pastel skin as she wandered away from the last stall on her shopping list.

The market had been busy, far busier than she was used to, but it hadn’t bothered her much. There was little she loved more than the chance to take a dip in a sea of new and unfamiliar faces and waiting in the long lines made for a perfect opportunity to get to know a whole bunch of new people.

By the time she was ready to leave, the chubby ball of energy was balancing a tower of boxes and bags in either hand, bobbing in and out of the crowds as if they hardly existed. The delicate equilibrium of the tiny towers remained completely undisturbed as she bounced and bounded her way back towards the bakery, only stopping when her attention shifted suddenly off to the side.

“Pinkie Pie! Yoohoo!!” Came a voice, singling her out from the rushing current of people around her. Pinkie’s head turned in the direction of the call and soon spotted the source: a woman a little older and thinner than herself with striking blue and green hair and a slight tan. She was carving a path through the mob, only stopping when she arrived directly in front of the pink-haired party planner, a wide smile across her face.

“You probably don’t remember me but-.”

“Of course, I remember you silly!” Pinkie cheered, taking the woman into a crushing embrace while still managing to keep the twin stacks balanced in each hand.

“Aurora Avens from Whitehorse, BUT your friends call you Aura, right?”

Pinkie released her captive, taking notice of a slightly bewildered look on Aura’s face as they separated.

“I remember every time I make a new friend.” She quickly clarified. “Especially ones from so far up north!”

The look of apprehension morphed into one of delight before Pinkie’s eyes, an event that never failed to send her over the moon. She was ecstatic to see Aura was adapting well, she seemed to have traded the heavy winter clothes she wore when they first met for a pair of short shorts and a tank top. Pinkie’s own outfit was similarly minimalist, the bakery was absolutely sweltering on summer days, so she rarely wore more than a skirt and t-shirt, exposing a slight tummy that was normally concealed behind her apron.

“When my husband and I arrived, you were the first person to welcome us to town, and we were so…impressed after meeting you we decided that we needed to do something.”

Pinkie’s heart leapt at the compliment. Lately she was meeting new people practically every day but barely ever getting to see them again. They seemed to practically vanish into town, and the extra time she’d been spending at work wasn’t helping either, it seemed as if little moments like these were quickly becoming almost nonexistent.

“So, I asked around and I learned that somebody has a bit of a sweet tooth, and my husband managed to get me….”

With a dramatic flourish she produced it, a tiny pouch with a stars and colourful streaks spread across it, reflecting the namesake of the woman who held it.

“Oh my gosh! I was just thinking I needed a new tiny bag! I have loads of tiny things! It doesn’t look all that sweet though… but I guess I could give it a try.”

“N-no its what’s inside the bag.” Aura loosed the knot at the top and spilled some of its contents into her waiting palm. “It’s chocolate!”

Pinkie gasped. “Even better!! I love love love chocolate!”

“But this isn’t just any chocolate.” Pinkie looked on as Aura held the tiny brown sphere up closer to her face. The pink haired woman felt her eyes lock onto it as it approached her, it seemed like any one of the millions of chocolate balls she had seen before, but for whatever reason she felt her eyes being drawn towards it.

“This chocolate is very special, and very expensive. We managed to get the only bag around, and we decided to do you a favour by sharing it. Do you want to try it?”

Pinkie was only barely aware of what was being said. The modest little sweet was rapidly becoming the centre of her universe. Everything about it, from the shimmer of the light on its coating to its faint aroma were becoming more and more enchanting with each passing second.

“Pinkie?” A distant echo rang out but failed to draw the now passive party planner’s focus away from the captivating confection. “PINKIE!?”

“Huh? W-what?”

“Do you want to try it?”

“Oh OH, that’s really nice of you…” It took a great deal of effort on Pinkie’s part to finish her thought. She felt like her mind was at war with her body, her sense of courtesy dueling with an almost irresistible urge to sample sweets, the former only just barely winning out. “But if they were really that expensive and that special I really shouldn’t –.”

“Nonsense, I insist!” Before she could finish Pinkie felt the tiny treat thrust itself into her mouth.

The taste was unlike anything she had tasted before, the sweetness crashing into her like a wave with such force that her knees gave out underneath her. The sound of her supplies tumbling to the ground did little to distract her from the euphoria that cascaded throughout her body from her head to her toes. She savoured every second, her tongue dancing with its tiny partner, allowing it to slowly melt away rather than chewing or swallowing so as to keep it with her as long as possible, a shiver running up her spine with each passing second as she struggled to keep herself from collapsing entirely.

When it disappeared entirely there was a feeling of equal parts elation and disappointment. Finally regaining some stability and balance Pinkie’s vision slowly returned to focus and began to roam over the toppled contents of her shopping trip.

As she began to grope for her scattered belongings, she once again started to take notice of her surroundings. The throng of people that had faded into obscurity as her attention shifted to Aura and her wonderful candy now returned to the forefront of her mind. Pinkie felt a pang of embarrassment as they stepped awkwardly around her, some whispering as they strode through the minefield she had laid in their path.

“Here, let me help you with those.”

Pinkie soon noticed that Aura had already begun collecting some of the things sown across the walkway, soon following her lead as the pair moved off towards a nearby bench, out of the way of the indifferent public.

“That was quite the fall.” Aura intoned as she sat down, a sly smile now taking shape on her lips. “When you said you loved candy you weren’t kidding, how do you feel?”

“Usually with my hands, but toes can be fun too.” Pinkie responded, still feeling a little dazed.

Aura one again looked confused. “I meant about the candy.”

“Oh right - Oh. My. Gosh. It was AH-MAY-ZING! I have got to know where you got it!”

“Well the place was pretty out of the way you probably haven’t been-.”

“Was it Choc It Out? The UnCandy Valley? The Sweets Suite? Mousse Hysteria? Confection Connection? Cocoa Cove?” Pinkie moved closer with each guess until she was practically nose to nose with her beautiful benefactor, the tingle of the delicious chocolate still buzzing in her mouth.

Aura seemed to be making some effort to pull away but was soon up against the arm of the bench. “It wasn’t a local store.” She eventually interjected. “I got it out of town from someone just closing up shop, it was the last batch.”

Pinkie felt her heart drop out of her chest at the news, pulling back and planting herself on the hardwood underneath her.

“BUT I do have a few more in this little pouch here.” Pinkie perked up again immediately. She watched with laser like focus as Aura once again revealed the starry satchel which began to seem like the most important thing in the world to her. She felt her tongue pass over her lips, trying in vain to find any reminder of the wonderful taste that was now like a distant memory to her.

Her previous reservations, the duel between desire and politeness was now entirely settled, she didn’t just want more of this candy, she needed it.

“Of course, I could be persuaded to share with a good friend.”

Pinkie felt warmth spread across her chest at the mere suggestion. “I’m a good friend! I’m a great friend!! I’m the best-est bestie in the whole world!!!”

“I’m sure you are, but we’ve only just met, I’d need to get to know you better before I could go around sharing something as special as this.” Pinkie watched her gesture with the pouch again, her eyes following it carefully as it swayed invitingly before her.

“That’s fine! We could hang out! We should totally hang out!! I could show you around town, we could-.”

“How about now?”

“N-now? Well right now I have work- Oh my gosh I have work! I’m supposed to be helping out at Sugar Cube Corners! I was supposed to bring all this stuff back with me!” Pinkie was back on her feet, stacking the boxes and already turning in the direction the bakery. “I’m so sorry, but we can totally do something later, I promise, but I need to go right now!”

“Oh of course, you go right ahead, maybe if we’re lucky we’ll run into each other again before I go back home, all the way up north and we can talk then.”

Pinkie Pie froze mid step.

“You seem pretty busy, I don’t want to take up too much of your time, I’m sure I can find someone else to show me around town.”

There was a feeling welling up within her, like water filling a sinking ship. She felt almost sick to her stomach, the sensational sweetness that had filled her just moments ago now turning bitter.

“Waitrighthereforasecond.”

In a blur of pink light Pinkie ran off, disappearing from the spot with supernatural speed and reappearing a second later absent the packages. Aside from her slight loss of breath it was impossible to distinguish the massive distance she must have covered in the span of only a few moments.

She smiled at the stunned looking Aura. “C’mon let’s go!”

“I can’t believe they just let you leave like that.” Pinkie strolled slightly ahead of Aura, watching the blues and greens of her hair gently mingle as the svelte beauty followed closely behind into the town square.

“Well the Cakes are super duper nice, plus I almost never take a day off. I told them it was important, and they just let me go.”

“You took the day off just for me?”

Pinkie nodded.

“That definitely deserves a reward.” She said, tossing a chocolate into the air. Pinkie angled herself directly under the delicious delicacy, catching in her mouth with a pleasant shiver without losing a single step.

“You really are the ‘best-est’ friend.”

“I never asked.” Pinkie said in between loving licks of the scrumptious sweet. “What made you guys want to come visit anyway?”

“It was my husband’s idea actually.” Aura responded as they rounded a corner, the fountain at the centre of town now coming into view. “He works all the time, and we live way up north, so we don’t have many neighbours. I used to have my dog Domino to keep me company but he ran away a little bit ago so I’ve been a tad out of sorts.”

“Oh my goodness I’m so sorry to hear that.”

“Its fine, He decided a vacation would be a great way for us to spend some time together and get my mind off of things, so here we are.” Aura seemed to brighten up after a moment. “And after running into you I think its starting to work.”

“That’s so good to hear, I know if my Gummy ever went away, I’d be pretty upset too, I’m just lucky alligators live almost as long as people.”

“You…you have a pet alligator?”

“mhmm! Wanna’ see? I’ve got lots of pictures.”

“Maybe later, I’d rather hear more about you.”

“Well…IwasbornonarockfarmandIhavethreesistersbutImovedtoPonyvillewhenIwasprettyyoungandgrewupherewithsomeofmybestestfriendsintheworldexceptforTwilightwhoImetwhenshecameherefromcanterlotandsavedusfromNightmareMoonandIbecametheElementofLaughterandnowIthrowpartiesandmakepeoplelaughandbakecakesandmakepeoplesmileanditsgreat!”

Aura once again took on a look of surprise.

“Um…what?”

“Heh sorry, sometimes I get a bit over excited when I tell that story.”

“That’s alright, I appreciate your…enthusiasm.” As she spoke Aura took a seat on the edge of the now nearby fountain, holding up another edible enticement. “Come, sit.”

Pinkie Pie practically planted herself right next to Aura, swiping the little sphere and taking into her mouth without a second thought. As it began rolling around in her mouth she did her best to savour every second, feeling a creeping sense of anxiety as it slowly shrank.

“I think I heard you say that you like making your friends laugh?”

“I do indeed!” She chirped, forcing the candy to one side of her mouth.

“To make people happy?”

“Pos-olutely.”

“I was wondering if I could ask you a little favour.”

As Aura spoke Pinkie felt her edge closer, her thoughts briefly fixing on the hand now resting on her leg before again turning to the chocolate still rollicking in her mouth. As Aura got closer Pinkie felt a warm breath om her ear as she whispered something, and then without thinking.

“ARF!”

Pinkie’s hands shot up to cover her mouth, she heard Aura snicker, but it wasn’t just her. Pinkie’s eyes darted over to a few people nearby and met their gaze just as they looked away, an amused expression on their faces.

“That was just perfect Pinkie!” She enthused, still half chuckling.

Pinkie Pie felt her cheeks burning, a crimson streak forming along them.

“I – I didn’t mean to – I just –.“ Before she could protest Aura had shoved another candy into her mouth. The shock tamping down on her worries but not suppressing them entirely.

“Relax.” She whispered. “I thought you loved making people laugh.”

“But they’re not – I don’t know these people – And they’re laughing at me – this isn’t-.”

Pinkie felt another orb force itself between her lips and whatever fears remained all but vanished. She almost melted from the overwhelming sweetness, forgetting momentarily that she was at the waters edge, she fell backward but felt a hand hold her steady.

Her eyelids flickered out of sync with one another, a dreamy look painted on her face as Aura looked back at her.

“You love making people laugh, don’t you?” She repeated.

“Mmmmm.”

“You don’t need to worry about what other people think, as long as you make your friend happy.”

She felt a finger drift up the gentle arc of her stomach, another hand still rubbing up against her thigh, her breath still coming up against Pinkie’s ear.

“You’d do anything for a friend who shared candies like these with you, wouldn’t you?”

“Mhmmm.”

“I’m glad to hear it, because I have a few ideas that I think would be pretty funny.”

Applejack was finally beginning to see what Rarity had been complaining about.

Finding something to lift Rarity’s spirits would’ve been an ordeal even on a good day, but this particular trip had proven absolutely excruciating. She had come to town determined to find something Rarity would love, something that wouldn’t end up gathering dust in a closet or taking up space in a basement due to their divergent tastes.

Instead She had wound up buying a little jeweled bracelet.

It was fine.

It was the kind of jewelry Rarity had far in excess, unlikely to disappear into the ether but also unlikely to help get her out of her funk.

AJ had already expected to spend all day looking, but today ‘all day’ meant only three shops. Three shops where she stood in line for hours and competed for the attention of clerks whose expertise she needed desperately, and who instead lavished their attention on strangers with fatter wallets.

So she settled on the unassuming trinket, not because it leapt out at her but because the stalls were closing and she had lost an entire day to lines and crowds, and she was now just anxious to get home.

“It’s getting a bit late now people, so let’s hear a few final ideas before we wrap up!”

Applejack’s farm-ward momentum suddenly came to a halt in the town square, the sound of a single voice drawing her attention towards an enormous crowd gathered around the fountain at its centre.

Finding an appropriate vantage point quickly proved impossible, but curiosity having gotten the better of her, Applejack began to force her way through the unyielding mob, their murmur quickly becoming a dull roar as she progressed, no doubt in response to the voice’s invitation.

Three suggestions however managed to rise above the others.

“Beg!”

“Roll over!”

“Spin!”

“All excellent ideas!” Came the singular response.

Upon finally managing to make her way to the front of the crowd Applejack froze as she looked on at the strange sight in front of her. Pinkie Pie was sat on her haunches, her waist wiggling back and forth, her blue eyes wide and her tongue lolling in and out her mouth, a thin strand a drool slowly making its way towards the ground.

Applejack’s mind ground to a halt as she tried to grasp the situation before her. Pinkie’s skirt looked to be hiked up around her well rounded hips to accommodate the odd posture she had assumed, leaving most of her rear end and her candy-striped panties exposed. Her white t-shirt was practically transparent, Applejack guessed she had been here a while, that the mist from the fountain had left the white fabric all but invisible, the curvaceous proportions of her upper body now on display, and her mid-sized matching bra preserving the final shreds of her modesty.

“Spin!” Commanded a woman perched atop the fountain’s edge, pointing a finger at a chubby pink-haired girl who immediately began to chase a non-existent tail in frenzied circles. The air filled with the crowd’s laughter, the woman above appearing to only just barely maintain her composure as she issued her second edict.

“Rollover!” She called, tracing a tiny circle through the air with her index finger, an impish smile curving along her lips. Applejack stared, frozen in place as one of her oldest friends sprawled herself along the cobblestones, the damp fabric of her white shirt soon darkened by dirt, her thick pink curls strewn with debris, and her face still wearing the same ridiculous look of joyful obliviousness.

The crowd’s laughter continued to boom around Applejack as she remained fixed firmly in place.

“Beg” She finally ordered, completing the trio of suggestions she had received.

Pinkie stopped her rotations and sat up once again. Her hands hung in front of her like little paws and her tongue was once again dangling before her, the rise and fall of her chest occurring in time with her uneven panting, rendered inaudible by the continued amusement of the onlookers that surrounded her.

The woman finally came down from her perch, tousling the hair of the expectant young lady crouching in front of her. Applejack watched as the stranger turned her attention to the assembled crowd, her eyes passing over the entire front row, including Applejack herself before speaking again.

“I used to do this with my old husky, lets see if my new pet is as smart as my old one!”

Applejack’s mind was still trying to process what was happening in front of her as the woman withdrew a tiny brown ball from a pouch in her opposite hand, balancing it on the tip of Pinkie’s upturned nose, her crystal blue eyes crossing to look upward at it.

“Wait.” The woman ordered as Pinkie wobbled back and forth, seeming to do her best to balance the tiny orb in place. As Pinkie struggled to remain stable, her apparent handler circled lazily around her. She stopped intermittently, amusing herself by playing with long curly locks of pink hair, or by tracing invisible lines along the kneeling woman’s torso, at one point even pausing to pull back on the elastic in Pinkie’s bra, watching in indifference as the loud snap sent her lurching forward, desperate to keep the little round bauble from falling over.

“Wait.” She repeated again, a condescending edge distinct in her voice as she stretched out each and every syllable.

“Ok" She eventually relented. "Go ahead.”

Pinkie flicked her head backward and the ball went flying upward, traveling in a gentle curve as it returned to earth. As she staggered backward to catch it, it soon became clear that she had misjudged the angle, the tiny ball instead bouncing off her forehead and landing on the ground below. Pinkie however was not deterred, rushing over to the site of her error and bending forward, pressing her mouth to the ground and retrieving her escaped quarry, her backside thrust out towards the audience as she lapped at the point of impact, desperate not to miss a single piece.

Applejack watched the entire display, her shock finally giving way.

She wanted answers.

“Pinkie Pie what the heck’re you doin’‽”

The crowd went silent as Applejack pressed her way into its aperture, Pinkie Pie’s head jerked in her direction, a mortified look suddenly overtaking her.

“A-Applejack I was just-.”

“And who may I ask are you?” Before she could reach her target the imperious woman swept in between Applejack and Pinkie Pie, the blues and greens of her hair dancing as she took root and halted the freckled farmer’s charge.

Pinkie spoke up from behind her, a nervous lilt to her voice. “She’s my friend Applejack, but you can call her AJ, or Jackie or – well it doesn’t matter right now, I bet you two would really get along if-“

“Quiet” the woman snapped.

“My friend and I were just providing some entertainment for these good people before we were so rudely interrupted, isn’t that right Pinkie?”

Pinkie’s head jerked up and down in absolute silence.

Applejack’s eyes shifted between the two, confusion, and anger burning within her, fighting over which was to be expressed first.

“I wasn't askin' you." She responded with barely restrained fury. "Pinkie get up, I’m takin’ you home.”

“A thoughtful gesture but unnecessary, we were just wrapping up and I was just going to take her home with me.”

Applejack immediately forced the woman aside and took Pinkie by the wrist. “I’m done talkin’ to you, I don’t know what you were doin’ with my friend and I don’t care, its over.”

“We were just putting on a show! I don’t know if you realize this but my Pinkie Pie loves making people laugh.”

Applejack glared at her.

“I know her better than anybody, and I’m not gonna’ stand here while she’s bein’ humiliated.”

“She seemed to be enjoying herself just fine, maybe I know what she likes a little better than you do.”

“We’re done talkin’.”

AJ pulled Pinkie along, her scowl causing the crowd to part in front of her as she approached.

“Pinkie Pie, stay!”

Suddenly the woman trailing behind Applejack became a lead weight, pulling the blonde off balance with her sudden loss of momentum.

Applejack turned and saw her friend looking back at the lean figure now approaching them, taking another candy from the bag. She felt Pinkie quiver as the ball was exposed to daylight but refused to release her grip.

“I think we should let her decide who she wants to spend her time with.” As she spoke, Applejack saw her take the candy into her own mouth, still drawing closer and apparently unintimidated.

“She’s comin’ with me.” She snarled back.

“We’ll see.” Came an almost indifferent response. “Pinkie, Kiss.”

Without warning Pinkie wrenched her arm free of Applejacks grasp and lunged at the woman, bowling her over in the process. Applejack watched as Pinkie planted a long, passionate kiss on the woman now partially pinned underneath her.

The crowd oohed like a collection of school children, but Applejack felt sick to her stomach. She wanted to tear them apart, to grab Pinkie Pie and scream, ‘why her?’ ‘why like this?’ ‘How could you kiss someone who treats you this way‽’

“I didn’t – I thought-.” She managed to stammer out.

Pinkie got up first, followed soon after by the other woman, her lips still smeared with the signs of Pinkie’s sudden bout of passion. Pinkie’s expression looked both dazed and euphoric, the other woman’s hand was sinking into her side now, pulling them closer together as Pinkie’s lips moved back and forth, still saying nothing.

“I think I know what she likes a little better than you do.” She said, smugness dripping from every word.

She turned to the crowd. “Sorry everybody but I think I’m going to have to call it here, me and my friend are heading home.”

Applejack watched stunned as the pair turned, she felt the footfalls of the crowd as they slowly dispersed around her, she felt terrible.

Pinkie Pie adored this night.

Warmth surrounded her from all sides, Aura’s legs were wrapped around her naked body, holding her rigidly in place. Not that she’d ever want to leave, the taste was incredible. No matter how much her tongue probed and lapped and explored she couldn’t get the sensation out of her mouth. She couldn’t shake the feeling either, it wasn’t quite hunger, it was something else, an emptiness that seemed to swallow up every other thought and emotion until it was filled, and only one thing seemed to do the trick.

She had walked home with her new friend in a bit of a haze, she remembered going to the market and running into Aura, but after that things got fuzzier. One of the few clear memories she had was of the moment the pouch ran empty on their way back to the hotel. She remembered a feeling of absolute terror when she saw it happen, but Aura assured her it was no problem. She remembered stopping off at a store on the way to the hotel, watching Aura buy a box of chocolate balls identical to the kind Pinkie ate practically every day. When the waiting finally became too much, she watched Aura pour the box into the pouch and then offer her a ball from inside of it, and then all her fear suddenly melted away. The same indescribable taste that made everything else feel irrelevant returned, and calm once again overtook her.

She heard the door to the room open, and a few footfalls approach but she didn’t let it distract her. Her mouth maintained the same steady tempo, rising and falling with the rhythm of Aura’s breathing, still staring up at the naked beauty above her, looking deep into her eyes and scanning for any hint of a shift or a change.

A deeper voice sounded above her just as a man entered Pinkie’s line of sight. “How are you liking your little present?” He asked as he gave Aura a peck on the cheek.

“She-.” Her breath hitched; Pinkie felt the thighs tighten around her for a moment, Aura’s opening spasmed and with almost robotic precision Pinkie moved her attention upward. She gently pressed her teeth to Aura’s clit, her tongue drawing soft circles around the tip, with another rough spasm telling her she had read the signals perfectly. She had become intimately familiar with every little twitch and every minor tic that Aura gave off in the brief time they had been alone together. She knew what awaited her if her performance was perfect, and had committed to memory everything that could help her get it.

“She’s great.” Aura finally gasped as Pinkie once again shifted downward.

“I heard you had some fun with her back in town too.”

She chuckled for a moment before taking another sharp breath inward. Pinkie could feel Aura’s hands dig into her hair, forcing her face further forward, burying it deeper still as she rocked back in forth in time with the steady rhythm of Aura’s own hips.

“I might have taken some time to show off my new pet.”

“Yeah some of the guys at the club mentioned as much, apparently she’s quite popular down there as well.”

“I hope -.” She began before taking another sharp breath. “I hope it didn’t cause any trouble.”

“They said they’d prefer that people be more discreet in public. But apparently this one is already a bit strange, so it wont cost us too much.”

Pinkie felt the legs on either side of her flex, their grip tightening around her, forcing her closer. She knew instantly what it all meant, and the pace of her tongue accelerated. Her captor fell backward but Pinkie would not abate, she pressed forward as Aura’s hips began to buck, Pinkie’s hands still gripping the woman’s thighs, holding her in place until a final violent lurch and a squeal of ecstasy told her she was finished.

The legs that had formed her prison relaxed soon after and Pinkie made immediate use of her newfound freedom, joining the couple on the bed while still on all fours. She hoisted herself on top of the woman lying prone on its surface, looking down at her sweaty, naked form. She felt the man’s hand run its way from the top of her head down to the small of her back, soon falling on her rear, gently kneading her backside as she wiggled it back and forth in an attempt to simulate the presence of a tail.

He chuckled. “I think she wants something.”

Aura’s clear green eyes opened and met Pinkie’s own briefly before she leaned down and ran her tongue along Aura’s cheek, doing her best to put on a pleading look when she rose up again.

She didn’t speak.

She couldn’t speak.

She hadn’t said anything in hours, it was probably the longest she’d gone without speaking in…ever. She remembered being told to be quiet but never being told she could talk again. She couldn’t bring herself to take any action that would risk her reward.

Aura produced another chocolate ball from the pouch sitting at her side. “I think you’ve earned this.” She said as she took it in her hand.

Pinkie was on it instantly. She wrapped her mouth around the treat while it was still in Aura’s hand, unable to wait a moment longer, but she didn’t stop there. With the ball stowed in her mouth, she began to run her tongue along the woman’s fingers, sucking every last spec from their tips, taking practically the entire hand into her mouth before finally releasing it and rolling aside.

Once again, she was in heaven. Every second the little ball remained in her mouth was utter bliss with every one of her senses singing in perfect, angelic harmony. It had only been a few minutes since she had last been rewarded, maybe thirty at the most, but compared to this feeling, time spent going without may as well have been an eternity.

In her rapture she hardly noticed that Aura was now upright again, not realizing it until she planted herself on top of Pinkie’s torso, the sudden influx of weight temporarily winding her, but not coming even remotely close to dampening her enjoyment of the this wonderful feeling.

Aura straddled Pinkie’s tummy, bending over and gripping her cheeks, her fingers still damp with Pinkie’s own fluids.

“Who’s my good girl?” She cooed. “Who’s my favourite little pet?”

Pinkie felt Aura continue to grind along her soft abdomen, one hand still pinching her cheek, the other kneading her breast almost absent mindedly.

“We are going to have so much fun together.”

The man made his way into view, emerging just behind Aura, still rocking back and forth as Pinkie continued to shiver and shake under the candy’s influence.

“I’ll get you a pretty little collar, and some lovely toys and-.”

“Sorry to interrupt your fun, but she is due back soon.”

Aura’s expression turned from totally joyous to melancholic in almost an instant. Pinkie felt the weight that had just seconds ago been baring down on her disappear as Aura stood herself up at the end of the bed. She barely noticed, her mind still flooded with feelings of abject elation as the tiny chocolate ball worked its way back and forth inside her mouth.

Pinkie felt herself lazily drift upward, her hand in Aura’s, pulling her upright. Aura soon leaned over, the look of disappointment still etched into onto her visage, before whispering into her ear.

“Party’s over.”

“Party’s over.” Pinkie repeated slowly.

All the emotion drained out of her, the affection that had just moments ago guided her every thought and action now a yawning void. She felt something slip out of her mouth as she said it, felt a slick object roll down her chest, leaving a warm trail down the length of her body before disappearing entirely from her reality.

Her thoughts were now singularly focused on collecting the clothes strewn across the floor.

As she pulled on her underwear, she could hear a pair of strangers behind her talking, but only just barely, as if they were a million kilometres away.

“Did you ask them while you were down there?”

“I made them an offer, they said they’d let us know before we leave.”

Pinkie finished hiking up her skirt and made her way to the door but felt something holding her back.

She saw a hand on her shoulder and felt a kiss on her cheek.

She heard a voice whisper something in her ear. “I’ll see you soon pet.”

The words didn’t mean anything to her.

The moment the hand was off she reached back for the doorknob, pulled it open, and walked out into the hallway.

Author's Note

Author Notes : sorry in advance for the long ass post-script

1) Thanks for the positive reception and all the encouragement, means a lot, hopefully this doesn’t piss away all the good will the first chapter seemed to generate

2) Democracy! (or: do my job for me) vote on whos gonna lead the next chapter, I wont garuntee that i'll abide by the result because I don’t have a full on plan and will default to whats easiest/fastest in a pinch, but hearing what people want will definitely help
https://strawpoll.com/ap951516

*Edit: Poll is over, Rainbow Dash wins with 65% of the vote*

3) Im learning I really hate naming things and people. alot

4) I know shadbase recently started a comic that overlaps with this a decent bit, but such is the issue with taking a month to put these out so I guess just trust that im not intentionally ripping him off

5) the usual thing: suggestions, comments, concerns, ideas etc. always welcome/encouraged

Ch.3: Mass Marketing

“I hate ‘er.”

Rainbow Dash almost felt sorry for the nearby tree as Applejack slammed her boot into its side, sending apples pouring down from above as violent tremors rocked the enormous plant down to its roots.

“C’mon, you only met her once, there’s no way-.”

“I. HATE. HER.”

The tree lurched under the force of another brutal strike, Dash’s eyes now fixating on the point at which sole had met wood, wondering if she could make out the faint shape of AJ’s heel in the increasingly wounded bark.

“You say that every time she starts dating.”

“No I don’t!”

Applejack laid one final blow into the tree’s trunk, collecting the stragglers as they fell to earth before hefting an enormous bucket of fruit over one broad shoulder and leading Dash towards her next victim.

The tree was definitely dented.

Though she was loath to admit it Dash was always a bit jealous of Applejack’s strength. She was more muscular, and a little taller too, though practically everyone was taller than Dash. Even through her work clothes she could see clear as day the definition in her back and her spacious hips as she dropped the container and prepared to resume her assault.

“The last girl wasn’t funny enough.”

“Yeah, well-.”

“Before her it was the one who was ‘low energy’.”

“She needs someone who kin’ keep up with’er!”

“And then there was the girl who didn’t have enough of a sweet tooth.”

“Watchin’ Pinkie eat salad was creepy and you know it.”

Dash plucked an apple from mid air as their deluge continued, taking a chunk out of it as she effortlessly flitted in and out of the path of the downpour.

“All I’m saying is you can be a bit…overprotective.” Dash replied through another mouthful of fruit.

“You weren’t there Dash, she was pushin’ Pinkie around, embarassin’ her, treatin’ her like a – like a-.”

Applejack’s attention seemed to shift abruptly from her task, now focused instead on the woman hovering a couple of metres away. Dash did her best to look away, ignoring the fire burning behind her cheeks, hoping Applejack couldn’t tell.

“You can’t be serious.”

“What‽” Dash played with a errant strand of her short, prismatic hair, avoiding eye contact but feeling the green eyes still very much upon her. “I was just thinking Soarin might be willing to do something similar for a certain girlfriend’s birthday of she asked in just the right way.”

The blonde farmer scowled.

“Come on AJ. It sounds like they’re having fun, just let them be.”

“Would you be sayin’ that if someone was treatin’ Fluttershy that way?”

“Absolutely.” Dash took another bite, somehow hoping the action would camouflage her absolutely pathetic lie. “All I’m saying is if she seems happy then that should be all that matters right?”

“I guess…”

“Besides, if you’re really that concerned you should just talk-.” The airborne athlete felt her words catch in her throat, stopping herself cold as if she were about to engage in some kind of horrible slander.

“You should-.” It was like they were being dragged back. With each attempt she was less sure of advice that had felt almost too obvious only moments earlier.

“You should give her some space…?”

Applejack pulled back mid strike, turning, incredulous, to her friend. “What?”

“You might have really insulted her and her girlfriend AJ.” She felt more sure with each passing syllable. “Pinkie is nice but even she has her limits.”

“You’re kiddin’ right?”

“Even if she isn’t -.” The words felt right at an almost primal level now, flowing freely in stark contrast to the grueling effort of seconds before. “It seems like everybody has their own stuff to deal with, they probably don’t need the stress.”

“Rarity has bin’ a bit outta’ sorts I guess, and Twilight’s bin' workin' non-stop on some special project…”

“Exactly.” She replied, now almost without thinking. “If you’re right we’ll know soon enough, and if you’re wrong, better to just keep it to yourself.”

“Yeah…”

“Just relax, things are fine.” Dash began to ascend, the distance between the pair slowly growing. “I’ve got an early morning tomorrow so I gotta go, but try not to worry so much kay?”

Without even waiting for a reply Dash was off, a streak of rainbow light trailing behind her, the farm fading into the distance along with Applejack.

Dash could already see Fluttershy waiting by the gym entrance as she approached, proving difficult to miss even at a distance. She was a tree among saplings, standing head and shoulders over most people, even edging out Rarity, albeit just barely, to be the tallest member of their circle of friends.

She was a perfect contrast to Dash, sharing the same sun-kissed complexion but virtually nothing else. Her thin, delicate features, left unspoiled by a life of compassion and patience were the polar opposite of Dash’s own, defined by muscle and a few thin scars, earned from a lifetime of determination, of chances taken and limitations exceeded. The string of piercings that ran the length of her ears and the several that were…less visible, looking artificial when placed next to Fluttershy’s naturalist beauty.

“HI SHY!” Her voice cut through the early morning quiet like a chainsaw, drawing a visibly startled Fluttershy’s attention just in time to lock her into an absolutely crushing embrace.

“M-morning Dash.” Came a slightly winded reply as Dash tightened her grip on the pink haired woman, lifting her off the ground in her moment of enthusiasm.

“Three weeks in a row! I’m so, so, proud of you Shy!”

“That’s-.” She coughed, still struggling to take a full breath. “That’s great Dash but – but could you please let me down, I - I can’t-.”

“Oh right.” As quickly as she had taken hold Dash released her captive, letting Fluttershy return to her feet and catch her breath. “Sorry, got a little over excited I guess.”

“I don’t think – I mean its not that big of a deal.” She replied, speaking to her shoes rather than to the woman floating directly before her. “It still hasn’t even been a month yet.”

“Bah!” Dash touched down to the ground, her magenta eyes looking up into Fluttershy’s turquoise. “Progress is progress no matter how small! Every little step gets you closer to being an even awesome-er you than you already are!”

Dash could see a slight smile break across Fluttershy’s lips, a glint of confidence igniting in eyes that were so often clouded with doubt.

“Now c’mon, lets get in there before the good spots are taken.”

Regardless of what Fluttershy said Dash knew how significant this really was for her.

Twice a week, every week, they had gotten together to do yoga at Fluttershy’s cabin. It was supposed to help her relax, to make her a little less anxious, and to be fair it did help a bit, but it was never quite enough.

It had been two years.

In those two years they had learned together, Dash had watched Fluttershy grow from a total amateur to a paragon of poise. She had watched her try and fail and try again, never ever giving up, but despite all her progress Fluttershy still hadn’t been able to bring herself to go to classes in public.

No matter what Dash did or said Fluttershy just couldn’t stand the thought of people watching her, taking note of her every little mistake, and laughing at the giant freak who could barely balance on her own two feet.

It broke Dash’s heart when she talked about herself that way.

Every now and then they’d make an attempt. Dash would stand outside at the entrance with Fluttershy, sometimes for five minutes, sometimes for thirty, watching others pass by, never entering themselves, but eventually they always wound up back at the cottage.

Then suddenly, just a few weeks ago, something changed.

One day, unprompted, Fluttershy announced that their next session would be at the local gym, without any of Dash’s usual poking and prodding. When they arrived, she passed through doors that had only days earlier formed an impenetrable barrier as if they were made of smoke, and when they left, she declared that they would return again in only a few short days.

It wasn’t just that she was going to the classes either.

Dash couldn’t help but notice the change in how she dressed. The loose-fitting sweatpants and t-shirt that had defined her outfits in their previous sessions had disappeared, replaced with a pair of dark green leggings and a sports bra. Her bare torso, previously uncharted territory, was now on clear display, framed from above and below by fabric that clung so tightly to her slender figure that it appeared almost painted on.

Dash wore the same thing, though in black, seizing on any opportunity to show off the body she worked so hard to maintain, but Fluttershy was different. Her wardrobe was awash with long dresses and heavy sweaters, and yet now each week brought with it something smaller, something tighter, the only consistent feature being the long pink ponytail that stretched well below her waist.

Fluttershy soon took a seat on a mat at the centre of the room, with Dash following suit on one next to her, each crossing their legs instinctively as they sat. Dash was always surprised at the popularity of these classes. There were at least two dozen people in the room excluding themselves, the relatively modest accommodation reaching full capacity long before instruction even began.

Dash turned to her friend, an aura of nervous energy radiating off of her in all directions. “Still feeling okay?”

“I think so.” Fluttershy whispered back, the faintest trace of self doubt still lingering in her voice.

The shorter woman flashed her the widest smile she could manage. “Everything’s going to be fine, just do your best.”

“A-Alright”

“Namaste class.”

“Namaste.” The words left Dash’s mouth the instant she heard the greeting, not so much spoken as recited. Her head turned and she stared straight ahead to the front of the room where their teacher stood, her posture suddenly straight and rigid, despite relaxation suffusing her entire body.

Their teacher was more or less what she expected: a very thin man, with a faint whisper of facial hair. He had a calm, soft spoken way about him and seemed to know what he was talking about. Dash guessed that he was some kind of big deal outside of Ponyville, the way he drew in scores of strange faces without a single flier or advertisement. She sometimes wondered how he managed to rent out the gym considering how little he charged the two of them to attend the classes, but never really dwelled on the thought.

“I see a number of new faces today.” He explained while pacing the front of the room. “And also, a couple of more experienced ones.”

“I think its important to show you what can be achieved with just a bit of patience and practice.” Without breaking stride, he gestured towards Fluttershy, who leapt to her feet with uncharacteristic enthusiasm, rushing to the front of the class, long fuchsia hair trailing gently behind her.

“Fluttershy is one of my two best students.” He said to the group, as a streak of scarlet blossomed across his volunteer’s face. “Why don’t you demonstrate to these people some of the things they can expect to accomplish if they stick with this.”

Without another word the tanned beauty adopted her favoured position. Her left leg stretched out behind her, bending up towards the ceiling, her foot cresting just slightly above her head. The matching arm was extended after it, its hand gripping her ankle, tensed muscles tethering her in place, arching her back and leaving her staring rigidly forward.

Dash recognized it as the ‘Dancer’s Pose’, one of Fluttershy’s favourites. The moment she took it on, any apprehension appeared to vanish entirely, her face a portrait of tranquility even as impressed murmurs and wide eyes swept across her audience.

“You see what can be achieved with just a little bit of perseverance?”

Concern slowly edged its way into Dash’s mind as she surveyed the range of stares drilling their way into her friend from a distance, but any worry stayed with her only briefly. Her breathing felt almost sedative, each exhale taking with it every negative emotion she had, soon replacing them with utter serenity, however briefly.

For Fluttershy it seemed to come easily now, standing in front of total strangers, completely indifferent, managing to face down her demons in a way that appeared to Dash to be almost effortless. Dash wasn’t nearly as skilled. Even in the brief moments when she did manage to find her rhythm and calm herself, it was always supplanted soon after by any number of other thoughts and emotions.

Still, it did her heart good to watch Fluttershy succeed, and she had never seen her friend so calm, clear and focused

“See how she keeps her hips aligned?” He asked as he placed hands on either side of her waist, running them along their slight curves as the ostensible statue remained rigid in place.

One hand shifted upward onto her rear. “The curve of her back here is excellent as well.” Dash heard Fluttershy inhale sharply as his fingers disappeared between her legs, the soft, dark fabric of her leggings easily giving way to his ambitious digits before they reappeared, tracing a line gently along the length of her spine.

Still she barely moved an inch, Dash knew her friend could handle this.

“Now why don’t a few of you come up here and see what true dedication looks like.”

Three men swiftly made their way to the front, enthusiastically testing Fluttershy’s resolve, appreciating her skill and her diligence in much the same way their teacher had only moments earlier.

Dash had been worried sick when on their first day Fluttershy had been asked to demonstrate for the class, but now she knew better. A placid calm had overtaken her friend as the first man began to finger her slit through her tights. The jade fabric turned darker with arousal at his touch, spreading downward along the leg that remained planted on the ground, but to Dash’s delight she held firm.

Her heart swelled when the second man pulled Fluttershy towards him, burying his tongue in the taller woman’s mouth. She tilted downward, her upraised leg angling still further upward as she met her scrutineer at his level, reciprocating the kiss but maintaining the same air of practiced poise that had earned their fellow student’s respect.

“Of course, I didn’t forget about our other star student.”

Dash’s focus turned from Fluttershy to her instructor, now looking directly to her from his post at front of the room.

“Rainbow Dash would you like to show the others what you can do?”

“Sure thing teach!”

The well muscled wonderbolt glided over to a spot only a few metres away from Fluttershy, briefly glancing over to see a third man grinding up against her planted leg. She rocked back and forth from the attention she was increasingly receiving from all angles, but despite this she remained in prime shape, refusing to budge more than was purely necessary.

For her part Dash already had a small crowd gathering nearby, eager to see just how awesome she really was.

“So what should I show em’ first teach?”

“Hmmm, let me think….”

Applejack’s butt hurt.

She was relieved at first to find the boutique closed when she arrived. She had told Rarity again and again that nobody needed a dress at seven in the morning, that even the most severe ‘fashion emergency’ could probably wait an extra hour or two while she got a proper nights sleep, but that never stopped Rarity from being there, ‘just in case’.

It was only after going into town to run a few errands and returning to find the door still locked that relief began to give way to curiosity, not worry, curiosity.

So, she sat herself down on the hard concrete of the stoop and waited.

And waited.

The sound of the door unlocking practically scared the freckled farmer out of her skin. The sun had long since passed overhead, now making its way westward, and Applejack may have dozed off while waiting, but the sheer duration of the wait was more than a little exhausting.

“Oh, good morning Applejack.” The words tumbled out of the entrance as Rarity emerged, devoid of the usual honeyed sweetness that coloured her speech.

“M-mornin’? Rare its gotta be nearly two in the afternoon, are you- are you doin’ ok?” The question felt unnecessary the moment it passed from her lips. There were tiny creases under Rarity’s eyes, her hair hung down loosely, just slightly askew, and then there were her clothes.

The sight was almost surreal, Rarity was wearing the same clothes she had worn only days before on their trip to the spa. This was the same woman who had more than once barricaded herself in her workshop to craft an entire new ensemble rather than suffer the indignity of being seen in the same outfit twice. Yet there she stood, the same low-cut blouse, the same tight black skirt, everything was identical, as if she hadn’t even cared when she got dressed that morning.

“Oh, I’m fine darling, just a little… a little tired.”

“Late night?”

Rarity’s voice turned dreamy for just a moment as she stepped outdoors, taking the ‘closed’ sign underarm and replacing it with one from inside the shop.

“No, no, just…tired.”

The fashionista turned back to the store, seeming to forget all about Applejack in the few seconds that her eyes were off of her. The blonde followed shortly after, passing by a sign that read: “Accepting Special Orders Only” on her way inside, a feeling of uneasiness growing within her as they entered the sprawling studio.

Little details that should have been utterly trivial drew her attention like signal flares, leaving her teetering between feelings of genuine concern and unearned paranoia.

The way Rarity wobbled just slightly in her heels instead of her usual confident strut, the wrinkles that desecrated her normally pristine clothing.

“You bin’ takin’ some time off from the boutique then?”

“Oh no quite the opposite actually, people seem to be coming by all the time lately. It seems like every time I open the shop there’s someone waiting to-.” She paused mid step, the same distant lilt returning to her voice as she stood motionless at the room’s centre for just long enough to make Applejack feel awkward. “- To buy an outfit.”

Rarity wouldn’t lie to her, but something was definitely off. Dust hung faintly in air, passing through the coloured beams of light that poured through the stained-glass windows. The mannequins were vaguely out of place, perhaps just slightly off centre, and the fabric rolls were out of their usual order. Rarity wasn’t quite as fastidious as Twilight, but she was close, and Applejack knew that these things should’ve been driving her up the wall, but instead she just passed them by, either indifferent or unaware.

“Well that’s good… I guess, I uh, I gotcha’ somethin’.”

Applejack handed Rarity a little bag and watched as she pulled a tiny trinket from inside, her face instantly alight as she laid eyes on it, looking like her normal self for the first time since meeting that morning.

“Oh Applejack its lovely!”

“Well I thought it might cheer ya up a bit.”

“It does darling, it does, I absolutely love it.”

Just as quickly as it had taken over, elation began to drain from her ivory complexion once again. Her eyes seemed to fixate on the little bauble as she held it aloft, running her fingers along the inlaid gems and mumbling quietly under her breath, slightly too quietly for Applejack to hear.

“Faux emeralds, imitation gold, roughly 55 bits.”

“Huh?”

“Nothing dear, just… talking to myself I guess. This is just perfect for your price range; I really appreciate it.”

“My price range? What d’you mean-.”

A knock on the door cut Applejack off, followed soon after by the sound of footsteps intruding on their conversation.

“Hello!” Spoke an unfamiliar man as he entered the boutique, his mere presence sending a chill up Applejacks spine. “I’m here to pick up a dress.” His eyes darted to the obvious third wheel. “For my uh, wife.”

“I’m sorry dear I’ve been a bit scattered lately, I’m not sure I remember taking your commission.”

“That’s not a problem.” He replied, taking a scrap of paper from inside his pocket. “I’ve got the order slip right here.”

Rarity’s entire demeanor transformed the moment the sheet of paper changed hands. It was as if an electric current passed between them, her eyes gleaming with new life and energy as they traveled across the little slip.

“Ohhhhh, this was a very special order.” She smirked, tongue running over her lips, her sultry tone throwing Applejack off guard by its sudden appearance. “I’ll have it ready for you in just a moment, but your welcome to wait while I put the finishing touches on it.”

“Would it be easier to get it ready if your assistant there helped out?”

Applejack’s skin crawled as his eyes briefly fell on her, but Rarity clearly didn’t share her revulsion. A beam of light could scarcely fit between them now, her body pressing up against him, a hand absentmindedly passing along his shoulders. If she didn’t know any better Applejack would’ve guessed, she was flirting.

“Actually, she was just about to leave, but I’ll make sure you’re well taken care of.”

“Are you sure? I can pay extra if it means getting a better… dress?”

“No darling, its fine.” She said, turning to face Applejack. “I’m sorry, would you mind leaving so I can work?”

“A-actually Rare, I was hopin’ I could talk ta you bout’ somethin’.”

Rarity pulled away from the customer, but just barely, a hand on Applejack’s shoulder, now ushering her toward the door.

“We can talk later darling, I’m working right now, nothing is more important than getting my job done.”

Before she knew it, Applejack was back on the porch, the door already inching closed and Rarity fading out of sight.

“A-Alright I guess… I’ll talk to ya later then.”

The door shut, the metallic click of the lock making their separation complete. People on the street continued to walk by, but Applejack was utterly alone.

Rainbow Dash gagged as the man’s full length forced its way down her throat, a sputtering cough barely escaping as he retracted, and her desperate lungs filled with air once again.

“Remember your Pranayama Rainbow Dash, Deep breaths” She heard her teacher whisper.

“Inhale.” She followed, taking in oxygen through her nose, her mouth being otherwise occupied, the scent of sweat and arousal overtaking her.

“Hold.” She felt another violent thrust, this time from below, pressing her ahead, her palms slipping forward along the tile floor, her mouth reabsorbing the thick slab that had only moments ago escaped her.

“And exhale.” Finally air flowed outward, taking with it any sense of stress or worry that had previously been dominant in her mind, leaving in it’s place an empty void of calm.

She felt a hand run along her side, its gentle touch becoming a welcome contrast to the rough force that pummeled her on either end. “Much better.” He cooed into her ear.

Dash could see him rise and meander away, she guessed to check in on Fluttershy as he just had with her. She was supposed to be demonstrating the ‘Wheel Pose’. It was beyond easy for her, little more than a simple back-bend, but of course the point of the demonstration was to challenge her, to really show what she could do, so naturally things became more complicated when the other students got involved.

The first had taken her from behind, lifting her legs from the ground and briefly throwing her off balance. She had kept her hands planted, maintaining her inverted perspective even as the sound of tearing fabric signaled that her first challenger was determined to make things difficult.

The other man had approached with similar verve, forcing himself into her mouth without ceremony or warning, so suddenly in fact that their instructor had made a point of checking in on her as she briefly faltered in handling them both simultaneously.

A prickle ran up her spine at the thought, the peace of mind so meticulously worked out already dissipating.

She hated that.

It was humiliating having him come over to her, to talk down to her as if she couldn’t take it, as if she didn’t know what she was doing, especially when it was done in front of other people.

The irony wasn’t lost on her of course.

Her biggest complaint about doing yoga with Fluttershy was that it was dull, far too easy when compared to her normal workouts. Yet when she last saw Fluttershy she was taking on four other students simultaneously and barely noticing, meanwhile Dash was scarcely managing to handle two.

She was struggling to ignore the sweat rolling along her body, holding tightly to the hills and valleys of her sculpted stomach, running ‘down’ the slight projection of her chest and onto her face. Shocks of pleasure coursing up through her body made it harder to concentrate, each one like an earthquake, further shaking loose fleeting memories of the tranquility she felt just moments ago.

Losing was never an option. If these two thought they could make a fool out of her they were dead wrong.

Rocking back and forth with each eager thrust, Dash did her best to divide her attention. She took the entire length of the man in front of her, felt his balls press up and rest against her face, her tongue coiling, teasing, stroking, and tasting, running it's stud along every single inch as it sawed in and out of her grasp.

Her legs were wrapped around the other man as he rammed forward, anchoring herself to him, her grip becoming tighter as the thrusts became more and more aggressive.

She was close, but so were they, she could feel it, she could taste it, and she had a plan.

The man at her feet would be first.

When he lunged forward, she tensed, her athletic thighs forcing him towards her.

She was in control.

He would pull back, but only because she let him, and only until she brought him in again, towards her, over and over. She set the pace, she dictated terms, she was going to win. She would feel him try to jerk back and hold him in place for just a split second, just long enough to send a message. When he was removed, she forced him inward again, just a moment before she thought he would be ready, the feeling of dominance and the feeling of his cock buried deep into her competing for status as the thing bringing her the greatest pleasure in the moment.

One final shove sent her over the edge.

Her back arched, her ‘grip’ on the man at her waist intensified, nearly crushing him, she gasped for air and once again came up empty, briefly forgetting that her mouth was busy. Both men, as if sensing her moment of weakness finished within seconds of each other, warmth pouring into her from either end, sending tingles radiating along her body to meet in the middle. The man below her staggered backward out of her grasp while the one ahead remained rooted for several seconds, his load coming in waves as his cock twitched and spasmed, draining itself down her throat.

Pleasure continued to rock her body but met with resolve in greater quantity. As her feet met the ground she returned instantly to her assigned position, not allowing for even a moments appearance of fatigue. The man in front slowly extricated himself, leaving a few long strands to fall warmly along her face, but Dash didn’t let it distract her.

She swallowed down what remained in her mouth, the bitter taste doing nothing to dull the sense of accomplishment that was now welling up inside of her. Soon she was back on her feet, a smug grin spreading along her lips as she stepped around the crumpled form of a man now laying prone on the floor. A man who had thought he could challenge her, the warm, sticky fluid dribbling down her thigh a persistent reminder of her unquestionable superiority.

Dash was glad for the break, though basking in the glow of her success wasn’t really her priority. She didn’t need to look hard to find what she was looking for, Fluttershy, it turned out, wasn’t very far from where she had begun.

She was down on the floor, legs laying flat, a slight tremor rising up the thin arms supporting her upper body, her back arched and her neck craning upward into the crotch of a trembling older woman. The woman’s hips rolled along Fluttershy’s face, hands tangled in strands of silken pink hair, pulling her higher and closer before ultimately collapsing backward. The woman soon lay on the floor a spasmodic mess, hips bucking, eyes rolling, and where once she had stood Flutterhy’s face had emerged. There was a fatigued look to her as she rose to her feet, teetering a little as she brought herself upright before regaining her balance.

A brief pang of worry overtook Dash as she saw her friend stagger, but it was soon buried under a mountain of pride. Fluttershy gave her a weak smile which Dash quickly matched and exceeded with one of her own.

Fluttershy was still here.

She was still trying her best, challenging herself and succeeding, even outperforming Dash herself.

She looked on at her friend’s face, dripping with fresh cum, her breasts free from a top that had been lost in one of who knows how many pose transitions. Her hair was matted with white splotches now discolouring its brink pink hue, the dark green of her leggings in tatters, laying bare her smooth, bronzed flesh.

Dash could not possibly have felt happier or prouder of her at this moment.

Before she could say anything their rendezvous was cut short, their teacher had taken notice of Fluttershy’s accomplishment and was already speaking to her. Without a moment’s hesitation Fluttershy spread her legs wide and folded forward, her hands planted against the floor, hair falling forward, her face only visible through the space between her thighs. Another man was soon stood behind her, anxious to test her resolve anew, but Dash wasn’t worried.

Even as the sound of skin slapping on skin once again began to fill the air there was no distress.

Fluttershy could handle it.

Applejack wasn’t being overprotective.

She wasn’t.

It was a beautiful evening, Big Mac was taking care of most of the farm work today anyway, there was absolutely no reason she couldn’t spend some time outside, relaxing and enjoying the wonderful weather.

The fact that she had chosen to do so across the street from Rarity’s boutique was a coincidence.

If sitting under this tree, basking in the cool shade and the gentle breeze happened to result in her keeping an eye on her friend’s business and the strange people who seemed to be patronizing it, then that was just another happy coincidence and nothing to worry about.

The first man, the one who had more or less evicted her, had spent almost an hour inside by Applejack’s count, and had left empty handed, as had the one who went in shortly after him. For several hours AJ observed a steady flow of people, mostly men she didn’t recognize, work their way in and out of the Carousel Boutique. With the arrival of each new customer Applejack became increasingly convinced that something was off.

They seemed to arrive with clockwork regularity, as if by appointment, lines were uncommon, and those that waited didn’t wait long. On the rare occasion someone Applejack recognized went to the door they found it locked and turned away shortly after, Rarity wasn’t even bothering to speak with them.

It was the same routine, again and again, only slowing, and eventually stopping when the sky finally began to turn dark. After a little over an hour without a visitor Applejack got to her feet, she didn’t care if it was getting dark out, she didn’t care if it was late, they needed to talk. Now.

As she made her way back towards the boutique she caught sight of Rarity, making her way out into the fading daylight almost as if on cue. She was wearing a jacket that reached down to her knees, an ugly brown thing that Applejack could hardly believe was allowed to exist in her home let alone rest on her body.

Without really thinking Applejack raced toward her, powerful legs pushing her forward, boots kicking up dust as she crossed the path and shouted after her friend.

“Rare?”

She didn’t stop, didn’t even break stride, didn’t give any indication that she had heard her name as she continued into the encroaching darkness.

“Rarity?”

The second attempt seemed to register, though just barely, her pace slowing slightly but never fully stopping. It was only when Applejack laid a hand on her that Rarity seemed to fully recognize that someone was trying to get her attention.

An uneasy feeling overtook Applejack the moment Rarity turned around. Looking up at her Applejack felt that something was missing, the shimmering blue eyes that she had expected were glassy and dull, staring directly through her.

“Rare - ity?” The word hit Applejack’s ears with a tone of total unfamiliarity. Rarity spoke her own name like something from a long dead language, barely seeming to recognize it, or that she had ever known it to be hers.

“Oh hi um…” She paused, her lifeless eyes looking down with an odd, uncomprehending gaze “Applejack.” She finally finished.

“Where’re you off to? Sweetie Belle’ll be home from her CMC meetin’ soon.”

“Sweetie…?” Her voice was once again distant. “Oh, I - I left her a sandwich, she’ll be fine.”

What little of Rarity’s outfit Applejack could see convinced her the towering beauty was going somewhere.

The bit of her legs that could be seen were confined to a pair of strap up heels that were tall even by Rarity’s standards. She could make out a pair of ornate bracelets, far nicer, and likely far more expensive than the one she had bought a few days earlier, and a brilliant choker around her neck to match. The only other hint she could glean was from a pair of thin, almost nonexistent straps that plunged from her collar deep into the neckline of the jacket, so deep in fact that Applejack guessed whatever they were attached to, there wasn’t much of it.

“Got’a date?” She guessed, unsure of whether she’d prefer to be right or wrong.

“Hmmm? Oh, something like that I suppose.”

“Somebody I know?”

She sighed. “I doubt it, sorry… Applejack, but I’m running a little late, I’ll talk to you soon.”

Without another word she turned away, walking with the same aura of aloof determination she had given off seconds before long legs carrying her quickly out of view towards a destination unknown.

The duration of this particular lesson was beginning to get to Rainbow Dash.

Aches were beginning to make themselves felt across her body, the constant tension from the myriad positions she had held were slowly taking their toll, and beyond that, parts of her were getting… sore.

Dash’s right leg was positioned straight upward, her left arm coiled behind her head holding it in place, but that was the easy part. What was harder was keeping her balance on a single foot while the man beside her continued to force her backward with each thrust. The woman currently latched onto her chest was doing her no favours either, twisting and turning the thin metal stud in her left nipple while laying slow, lingering kisses on the right.

“Getting tired?” The man asked in an unmistakably mocking tone.

“Pfft dream on, I could do this all dAYYYY!”

Dash felt rows of teeth clamp down on her breast, her eyes shooting downward to see a woman with mischievous eyes staring back, tugging on Dash’s chest while drinking in her discomfort.

“That makes two of us.”

A smug retort grew within her but died in her throat as dueling pleasures radiated from her chest and sex in an almost overwhelming harmony. Her head snapped backward, her left leg turned to jelly, nearly giving way and maintaining its strength only through sheer force of will. The sound of her climax was audible not just by the echoes of her own self-stifled shriek but by the sound of her arousal spilling to the floor and now seeping underfoot, but she wasn’t going to give up.

“Mmmm you really are persistent, aren’t you?”

Dash’s vision was blurred, she felt the man pull out, no doubt satisfied that she would not be cowed, but the woman, apparently, wasn’t quite so sure.

“You know, I’ve been coming here ever since these little…” A wicked smile curled across her lips as she enunciated the next word. “’classes’ began, I’ve noticed you haven’t fallen out of position even once.” The woman was evidently more ambitious, her focus now moving higher, and adopting a softer tack for her second performance.

“It seems like everyone else just dives on in, nobody has bothered to keep you waiting.” Her lips were grazing along Dash’s neck, their softness making for a strange counter to her male counterparts more zealous and forceful thrusts from the recent past. Her hands were distinct as well, gingerly exploring every muscle on Dash’s wiry frame, trailing up along the path of her abs and curling around to her back, circling back down and brushing across her sopping slit, sending a shiver rocketing through her body, but never entering, every second stretching into infinity.

“But I’ve been paying attention, I think I know how badly you want to impress everybody, I just need to find something you want a little bit more.” Her lips came millimetres from Dash’s, the scent of Dash’s own sweat on her proving intoxicating, loosening her grip on her leg by simple proximity.

“I guess the real question is: which is more important? This?” Her nails traced up along the length of Dash’s leg, streaking along the taught muscles and meeting her own hand before drifting back downward. “Or this?” Dash felt her resolve wilt as the woman pressed closer, now nibbling gently on her ear, breasts pressed into her face, hand circling and moving away from the one place she knew it needed to be.

Tremors ran through her entire body, her fingers digging deeper into the upraised appendage, struggling to keep it airborne. Her entire being quaked with every touch, her mettle melting under her own heat.

“Guess what?” Dash groaned as the woman buried herself in the crook of her neck, retreading ground she’d already been, acutely aware that it was fertile. “I think I win.”

All it took was one touch. Dash practically exploded, like a dying star her resolve collapsed in on itself. She felt every muscle in her body liquefy, collapsing forward into the woman’s arms, pleasure mingling with pain as she wrapped arms around the closest thing to her, clinging to her, trying desperately to remain upright, to preserve some shred of her dignity as it splattered down her thighs, soaking into the tattered remains of her leggings.

But she wasn’t done.

Another touch between her legs started the whole thing over again, a new wave crashing into her before the first had even receded. Before she even had the chance to process it Dash was on her knees, at the woman’s feet, hands clinging to her thighs for what little support she could find.

“All it takes is a little bit of patience.”

She felt a hand caressing her matted, prismatic hair, she could almost feel the condescension in its rhythm.

“Buh.” Dash sputtered, barely managing to force herself upward, legs constantly threatening to give out underneath her. “B - best two out of three.”

Dash drew herself, barely, to full height, doing her best to paint a picture of resilience, hoping to, through pure grit, to erase the image of her practically prostrated, a quivering mess only a little earlier.

She steadied herself, preparing to begin again, to redeem herself in the eyes of this total stranger, and then she heard it. A loud thud, somewhere just out of view. Her eyes scanned the dim surroundings, settling on a small group clustered a few metres away, and suddenly her blood ran cold.

Fluttershy lay unmoving, light murmurs escaping from the crowd that had partially surrounded her.

Dash was by her side before the thought even processed in her mind, forcing aside the woman who had up until that point been the sole occupier of her attention with an aggressive indifference, and appearing by her friend like a bolt of lightning.

“SHY?!”

There was a gentle rise and fall to her chest, even breaths, like she had simply fallen asleep on her feet, relief mingling with abject terror in Dash’s heart as she hunched over, desperate to see any kind of response.

“SHY ARE YOU OK?! WAKE UP!” Her voice cracked with emotion as others stood by, either nervous or uncarring.

“DON’T JUST STAND THERE SOMEBODY GET-!.”

“Shhhhh, remember your breathing Dash.”

Her teacher was behind her now, hand running gentle lines along her side, speaking in the same calming voice that normally put her quickly at ease, though not this time.

“MY BREA-? SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH FLUTTERSHY.”

Long even strokes along the side of her abdomen, fingers dragging across the ridges of her oblique muscles with the purposeful motions of an expert painter.

“I – I shouldn’t have pushed her, I should’ve been more careful. I NEED TO GET HER TO-.”

“Avidya.” He whispered, and suddenly Dash’s vision tunneled. A vacant feeling overtook her as the entire world vanished around her. It wasn’t calm, it was more than that, darker, deeper, total nothingness.

“How are you feeling Dash?”

“I – I don’t know.”

“Is everything ok?”

“I don’t know…”

His hand stopped, resting where her abdomen met her waist. “Take a deep breath for me.”

She obeyed, his fingers trailing up her side in perfect alignment as her chest filled with oxygen, reaching up along her ribs and the stopping just as her lungs were full.

“Ananda” Just as Dash began to exhale the words hit her, his fingers following downward with the long, unbroken exhale, finally once again touching her waist as the air drained out of her entirely.

“Feel better?”

Dash felt a smile spread wide across her face, felt some strange combination of serenity and happiness pervade every part of her being, body and soul, having overtaken any number of other negative emotions that felt to her like memories from decades ago.

“Why don’t you go back to helping the other students while I take care of Fluttershy.”

“Sure thing teach! I’m sure she’s fine.” She chirped, gliding back toward the woman, now joined by another male student, each one with an expectant look now dominating their features.

Dash lay on her back, the cold tile sending shivers all throughout her body as it made contact with her slick flesh, taking an ankle in each hand and spreading herself welcoming and wide in a perfect split. The students were soon on her again, but any stiffness or soreness barely registered, suffocated under still waters of relaxation.

Everything was fine.

Following after Rarity was easier than Applejack had expected.

It wasn’t exactly difficult to keep sight of her, but more than that she in her own little world, eyes fixed to the path she followed, never taking any notice of her surroundings. At first Applejack had kept her distance, taking corners only after she had seen Rarity disappear over the sight line, but her lead seemed so divorced from reality she soon simply trailed behind, at some points only separated by a few metres.

They were passing through an area Applejack was unfamiliar with, over uneven ground and through darkened foliage. Even in heels Rarity navigated the path better than Applejack in her boots, guided by what looked like an intimate familiarity with every root, pebble and branch she passed by.

The faint chatter of strangers eventually told Applejack they were nearing their destination. Stealth once again becoming a priority as she disappeared into the darkness by the side of the path to avoid the eyes of a short line up and the structure’s entrance. From her hiding spot she watched Rarity breeze past them all, the door giving way for her as she disappeared inside.

From there it was mostly just waiting, nearly an hour passed before the queue cleared completely and she was certain she could approach without being seen. She made her way to the door and pressed forward, finding it exactly as solid and unmoving as it had appeared.

Nothing could ever be easy, it seemed.

Still the sound of her attempt soon drew a reaction as a slot opened high in the door’s façade, a pair of dark eyes now starring down at her with a look of boredom and indifference.

“Go away.”

Applejack was unintimidated.

“I’m just tryin’ ta’ see my friend, she just went in.”

“You must be mistaken, no women allowed in.”

Applejack clenched her jaw, refusing to break eye contact. “What are you five?”

“I’m not five, and you’re not getting in, good night.”

With that the rectangular portal closed and once again Applejack was left alone. A series of knocks on the door, each one louder and more violent than the last proved ineffective in restarting their discussion, eventually leaving Applejack to turn back towards home.

She would be back.

She wasn’t giving up that easily.

It was dark when they finally left the gym.

Classes that ran all day were more than a bit of an inconvenience, but the results were worth the effort. even Dash’s most grueling workouts gave nowhere near the satisfaction she got from these excursions.

She could feel the weight of her friend on her back, her long limbs making it a bit of an awkward carry for Dash’s smaller form, even despite the relatively minuscule weight, her gentle breathing ticking the back of Dash's neck.

Fluttershy had fallen asleep during their break and Dash hadn’t had the heart to wake her, preferring to let her rest. She had been trying so hard lately, exhaustion was to be expected, and she deserved a break.

“Same time Tuesday?” Asked the teacher as he followed out closely behind her, turning in the opposite direction.

“You betch’a!” Dash cheered back as she began the long walk back to Fluttershy’s cottage.

Author's Note

1) innovative new developments in the field of porn thats also kinda sad

2) Thanks for waiting, this took way too long

3) double thanks to the wise commenter "Arzoo" who reminded me that this chapter taking forever is a sign of my absolute mastery of suspense rather than my gross incompetence, meaning i dont have to apologize :P

4) please excuse my complete unfamiliarity with yoga and gyms and the people who inhabit them

5) questions, comments, suggestions, always welcome

Ch.4: Corporate Espionage

Big Mac was determined.

His little sister had asked him to investigate the strange building that now loomed above him, and so far, he had let her down.

In a number of visits spread out across two weeks, he had learned nothing, and Applejack had been getting more and more anxious with each passing night.

His recollection of those excursions, really more hazy inclinations than full memories, were of little use. Applejack had practically begged for his help; she was certain that something was going on, but each time he returned home he had little useful to tell her, and was less sure of what little he did, his only enduring impression being the need to return to learn more.

Tonight would be different.

He stretched as he stood in line, the closest things he had to ‘nice’ clothes rarely saw the light of day and were now straining against limbs and muscles that had grown significantly in the years that had passed since he last wore them. The soreness of a hours spent tending the land was still with him, an unfortunate reminder that despite his long days work, his night was only just beginning.

As the procession slowly made its way forward Mac knew that he had to do better. When he finally reached the now increasingly familiar metal doorway, he was gripped by certainty that tonight he would return to Applejack with the information that she needed. He was resolute, his goal was singular, his purpose was clear, tonight he would get to the bottom of this, no matter what happened he would-.

“Mackie! You’re back!”

Scarcely having crossed the threshold, his senses having just barely begun to adjust to the sudden influx of light and sound, he was already overwhelmed. A velvet hand had wrapped itself around his, pulling him aside, and without fully understanding why, he was going along. His captor wasn’t bigger than him, she certainly wasn’t stronger, but from the moment he heard her voice and felt her touch, he was utterly powerless to resist.

When his keeper finally stopped Mac recognized her instantly, Starlight Glimmer was stood in front of him, an excited mien radiating from her as she stared up in his direction.

“Um-.”

“Lookie what I got!” There was hardly time for Mac to speak as Starlight started to twirl in place, her body clad almost entirely in skin-tight, gossamer thin fabric, a few strategically cut holes exposing her dark flesh to open air but otherwise clinging elegantly from her neck to her toes.

The sheer, cerulean material left little to the imagination, putting every millimetre of her mostly average proportions on display, save for the one area in which even imagination would have proven utterly inadequate. One particularly gaping hole revealed a pair of spectacular breasts, large by anyone’s standards, but certainly when compared to Starlight’s otherwise modest figure. A pair of heart shaped pasties sat like lifeboats in a veritable ocean of supple flesh, rising and falling with the waves of her breathing, the sole, lonely cover keeping them from being exposed to the open air in their entirety.

She finished her rotation somewhat off balance, certain parts of her carrying more momentum that the rest, but her point was no less effective for her lack of grace.

“You likey?”

Mac swallowed hard. “Uh…y - yup.”

“Hee hee, I knew you would!” The ostensible magician pressed close against him, warmth radiating through his dress shirt as her soft mounds gave way against his rigid stomach.

“C’mon Mackie, let’s go somewhere a little more private.” He felt her hand on his again, and without a moments hesitation he was once again following. The same passive, weightlessness suffused his body as he walked, the colossus of a man feeling more like a balloon on a string, captive to the whims of the woman to whom he was tethered.

It was only with considerable effort that the farmhand managed to tear his gaze from his lead, his eyes practically glued to the sway of her hips as she skipped and flounced ahead, teal and lilac curls springing to life with every step. It was with even greater difficulty that he struggled to determine why he would even want to. The striking blue fabric that put her every immodest detail on full display, hugging to her pert ass, offsetting the sable tones of her thighs, conforming to her every muscle and curve as she went, was transfixing. Still, for whatever reason he persisted, even as he was drawn deeper and deeper, unable to fight the need to see more, of the semi-familiar territory.

He directed his gaze leftward, immediately taking notice of a familiar face among a throng of strangers. Cheerilee, it seemed, was carrying a tray in either hand, each one littered with an assortment of drinks, held remarkably stable as she navigated her dimmed surroundings. A ruby-red corset cinched her generous figure, forcing her breasts into prominence, accompanied by pairs of similarly vibrant bottoms and heels and a set of bunny ears, all tied together by a beaming smile that never seemed to waver.

She paused as she passed by each table, delivering a glass along with an exaggerated display of affection. Mac watched with no shortage of fascination as the well-padded teacher went from customer to customer, planting long slow kisses on cheeks and taking the occasional seat on waiting laps. Each time she departed, it was with a growing sum of cash, deposited by hand into the crevasse of her cleavage, and often preceding a slap on her robust rear.

To his right, things were less concrete.

Through tiny gaps in a crowd, he could just barely see traces of Lyra and BonBon, putting on a show in a sunken grotto to rapturous chorus of hoots and hollers. Occasional squeals of ecstasy pierced the air like lightning, before the vacuum filled with thunderous approval, informing Mac that he was likely missing out on something rather impressive.

In both cases, Mac was left feeling slightly uneasy, his mind equal parts enraptured and off put by sights that, for whatever reason, left him conflicted. Still, these thoughts were not with him for very long. Soon his attention was once again upon the woman ahead of him, stopping just in front of secluded booth, not hidden entirely, but far enough away from prying eyes to afford them a modicum of privacy.

Within a moment of arriving Mac already found himself being ushered into the tiny room and planted down upon a plush couch while his guide remained standing. A sickly aura sputtered to life and took hold of a bottle on a nearby table, struggling to lift the modest weight, but eventually managing to pour it into its attendant glass. The dingy glow next floated the tumbler, shaking like a leaf, into Mac’s grasp, the pathetic display sending a tingle up his spine that he did his best to ignore.

“I’ll be right back.” She purred, spinning on her heel and turning away, but stopping after only a few steps forward. “Whopsie, almost forgot!”

Mac watched her return, engrossed by the more than slight jiggle that accompanied her every hop, skip, and jump. Her approach didn’t end at the seat’s edge, joining him on the couch, dipping low as she went, until she was as close to Mac as the seat would permit. He felt her hand caress the back of his neck, idle fingers playing with messy locks of short orange hair.

“I showed you what I had for you, but do you have something special for me?”

Her eyes were upon him, he could feel it, but wouldn’t meet her gaze. She was close now, so close he could see the intricate patterns in the lace of her outfit, inhale the faint scent of vanilla that stuck to her skin, but of course these were fairly minor details. Her newfound proximity put Mac face to ‘face’ with the objects of his affection, close enough to now make out flecks of body glitter, like tiny stars against the night sky, gently swaying back and forth, twinkling in the soft light. He was almost unaware of his own hand, rummaging through his pockets while the rest of him was paralyzed, finally emerging with a wad of bills, to Starlight’s evident delight.

“Wheee!” She squealed, wrapping herself around him, forcing his face forward and nearly suffocating him, not that he felt any need to complain. “Wowie! They’re gonna’ be so impressed, some of these numbers are even higher than I can count!”

When Mac finally forced her off of himself it was with no shortage of resentment, his lungs having thoroughly betrayed him by demanding his escape, but this feeling was short lived. A long, drawn out kiss came shorty after, one final token of appreciation as Starlight once again began to pull away.

“I’ll be back soon! Just wait right here Mackie.” She said, clutching to the wad of cash with an air of almost religious devotion, a spring to her step as she disappeared into the darkness.

In Starlight’s absence Mac found his thoughts coming into focus, aware once again of minor aches and pains, but also of surroundings that, when his attention was on his erstwhile companion, all but faded from existence.

His eyes roamed around the dimly lit club, taking sips of what he now knew to be cider as he scanned the environment, eventually taking notice of DJ PON3. The electric blue of her hair, and the contrast it set with her pale white skin proved distinctive even in an environment rife with diversions. Her hands were planted on a pair of turntables, not an even remotely unusual sight on its own, but what was more captivating was what hung a few metres in front of her.

Suspended in a cage in front of the expert DJ was Octavia Melody, wearing nothing but a series of glow rings and a few patches of incandescent paint, dancing like a woman possessed to the arrhythmic highs and lows of her roommate’s melody.

Seeing Octavia dance wasn’t strange on its own, for all her pretension and condescension she was a magnificent ballerina in addition to a musician, everyone in town had taken the time to see her at least once, but this wasn’t ballet. Relics of her prior performances, her usual grace and poise were still clearly present, but they were only a fraction of what Mac was seeing. The raven-haired woman shivered and shook, hands running along her body, legs spreading wide as she went lower, flicking her head forward and drawing upward again before twisting and turning in her limited space.

The albino DJ for her part appeared to be enjoying the influence she had over her dancer, peppering the song with scratches and drops, a look of abject delight on her face as violent swings in tempo and rhythm sent the normally prim and proper cellist sweeping across her enclosure, trails of livid light tracing after her long limbs and svelte form, painting the air with neon colour.

Like a puppet on invisible strings she matched every note flawlessly despite her conductor’s obvious efforts to stymie her performance. Abrupt stops in the music occasionally left Octavia stranded, frozen in place, with Mac half expecting the dancer to fall, to wobble, to show any sign of difficulty, but she didn’t. For what seemed like an excruciatingly long pause Octavia was left perched upon her toes, the only sign of life being the rapid rise and fall of her perky chest, until, once again, without warning, the music began anew, and she resumed her performance as if nothing had happened

Despite the beguiling display in front of him, Mac found his mind wandering elsewhere, an oddity in itself, as, with Starlight’s brief departure, he found himself free to think for the first time since he had arrived.

He had never been all that close to Starlight, certainly not as close as he was with Applejack’s other friends. She was confident, she was pretty, and she was absolutely brilliant, and as awkward as it was to admit, he actually found her more than a little intimidating.

He watched Octavia strike a particularly provocative posture, folding forward, hands running up her legs, the luminescent colours mixing and mingling as sweat and arousal sent them running along her skin, still his thoughts remained elsewhere.

Starlight was just easier to be around when he was here. There was just something about her, a sort of quiet intensity that left Mac a little on edge.

It wasn’t her fault of course, but whether it was at one of Pinkie’s parties, or just crossing paths in town, there was always the sense that she knew more than she let on. Her eyes were radiant, windows into a mind that appeared to never really stop, seeming to scrutinize everything and everyone laid before them, even in the most idle of conversations, examining rather than merely looking in a way that was imperceptibly daunting.

Here she was different.

Just being around her was relaxing, even sitting here thinking about her left his mind feeling out of sorts. He felt there was something he supposed to be doing, something important he was supposed to be focused on, but every moment he was here, thinking about her it got harder to-

“Whatcha’ looking at?” Mac practically leapt out of his skin, Starlight’s reappearance taking him forcibly out of his preoccupation. “Should I ask her to take a break? I bet she’d love to join us.”

“Oh, uh, n-nope, you’re all I need.” He replied, hints of curiosity and regret tinging his words before they were even fully spoken. “I was just thinkin’ I might’a forgotten’ somethin’ is all.”

Starlight moved closer, joining him on the couch before taking a more permanent seat facing him, straddling his muscular thigh, her presence drawing his attention immediately and unshakably downward , her hand guiding the glass in his to his lips, which he obligingly drained.

“Don’t worry about it, I forget stuff all the time.”

Mac’s focus flickered back to life. He had never known Starlight to ‘forget’ anything. A certain amount of clarity, briefly suppressed, was beginning to take hold of him, disparate notions and memories suddenly clicking together.

“You don’t…” He began to push her backward, he needed space. “You’re not…” Applejack’s friend was on his lap; she was practically naked. “This is wrong.”

Starlight’s expression turned to one of incomprehension, a look that appeared entirely alien on her and that further fueled Mac’s desire to leave.

“You’re not – not like this. You’re not Starlight.”

Her expression turned even more quizzical. “I’m not?” She asked, quirking an eyebrow. “Then who am I?”

Mac tried to force himself upright, but struggled, Starlight’s hands pressed against him, pushing him back against the couch, and despite no uncertain disparity in strength he found himself giving way.

“Doesn’t Starlight have nice smooth skin like this?” Her hands trailed along the opaque blue fabric that ran the length of her arms. “Or silky hair like this?” She asked running fingers through ringlets that shimmered with even the faintest exposure to light. “Or big round boobies like these?” Finally, she folded her arms along her torso cradling her chest upward, pressing her upper arms together in a posture for which ‘presenting’ was the only appropriate description.

“Starlight isn’t stupid.” He managed to force out, still held back by Starlight’s own meagre efforts to restrain him.

“I’m not stupid!” she replied without even the faintest hint of offense. “I’m just happy!”

She began to bounce in apparent excitement along her seat on Mac’s leg, her folded arms supporting her ample chest as it went along with her.

“Everything is so easy, I make tonnes of friends, I make people happy, and everybody is super nice to me now! What’s stupid about that?”

He struggled to rise again, but his minder simply leaned in closer, cutting him off before he could even start.

“You work hard don’t you Mackie?” He did work hard. "I bet you feel tired from working all the time" He was reminded of the dull twinge in his lower back, his aching shoulders and the soreness in his neck.

"It's the same way for me, always having to think about everything, never getting to stop, for even a second." She was still dancing in place. “Don’t you wanna be happy like me Mackie?” He did, so badly.

“You don’t haft’a worry about me, I’m just a big titty bimbo, here to make you happy, I feel good when you feel good, so just enjoy yourself.”

“But I… I think – I forgot-.”

“Shhhhh.” A hazy tone overtook her previous bubbly lilt, her words briefly recited rather than spoken. “If you forgot it, it can’t have been that important right Mackie?”

“Couldn’t’a bin’ important.” He finally agreed, his brief flirt with coherent thought now becoming a distant memory.

Her hand worked its way under his shirt, he felt her soft touch along his toned stomach, tracing lines up and down the crease of his abs. “So what would make my special-est friend happy today?” Her head was next to his now, warm breath whispering into his ear in soft sultry tones. “The usual?”

There was still a momentary break, a brief flash of awareness, and the idea that whatever was happening in this instant, with Applejack’s friend, it shouldn’t be. Starlight however, seemed to suffer no such conflict, slithering her way from her previous seat on his lap down to the floor and propping herself up on her knees, having apparently taken his silence for ascent.

With little more than a crook of her finger she brought the behemoth to his feet, a sputter of weak magic taking hold of his belt, fumbling with the buckle but eventually managing to undo it. Tender, delicate hands drew his pants downward before she moved towards her ultimate goal, taking the waistband of his boxers in her teeth and finally stripping them away, with Mac’s excitement quickly becoming obvious.

His cock didn’t so much come out as escape. Freed from its restraint it burst forth, erect and eager, standing straight before falling forward slightly and resting briefly against Starlight’s face.

There were vague impressions in his mind of the first time they had done this, a recollection of Starlight staring moon-eyed at a member whose substantial endowment in many ways mirrored her own. Even now, with the sudden break in her rhythm, the brief pause between unsheathing his manhood and making use of it, told Mac that she still wasn’t entirely over it, though she wasn’t held back for very long.

With a flick of her wrist she sent him falling back toward the couch, leaving him easy prey for a Starlight now ravenous in appearance. The bottle that had sat undisturbed on the table behind her once again came to life, shambling toward her and inverting. A waterfall of sparkling yellow cider poured over her chest, seeping into the yawning chasm of her cleavage, and spreading over them as her free hands massaged the liquid along their endless surface.

Mac could see from his seat that the drink was still cold, made obvious by the pasties now significantly less securely fixed as the nipples underneath them appeared to stiffen and strain against their already inadequate covering.

He soon felt the full weight of her breasts upon him, the sudden chill sending a sudden shock to his system, before being overtaken by their comforting warmth. His cock was now smothered between two heavenly supple pillows, with its head only barely managing to protrude out from between them.

“You really like my big boobies don’t’cha Mackie?”

The tip of her tongue meet the tip of his cock and he knew immediately that an answer was unnecessary. She began in earnest, bobbing up and down, breasts spilling out of hands totally ill-suited to contain them, let alone hold them in place. She offered him no respite, his dick either sandwiched between her breasts or embraced by her pillowey lips.

Looking down at her eager work his eyes met hers, occasionally obscured by purple and turquoise tresses, but they were unmistakable. These weren’t the eyes that had unnerved him so many times before, the inquisitive lustre, the shimmering brilliance was gone, instead they were worshipful, alight only with desire and affection, but otherwise dim and hollow. She brushed back a long lavender curl and winked at him before plunging downward on his rod, taking in a sizable portion but falling short of fully absorbing his enormous length, but she made clear she was determined to keep trying.

His notions about her eyes and her personality were becoming increasingly distant, an encroaching fog, a stupor that seemed to swallow ideas, never to be seen again, took ever greater portions of his concentration with each stroke of Starlight’s massive tits. It seemed more and more that ‘thoughts’ were no longer with him at all, all that remained were sensory impressions, the feeling of sweat, cider and saliva lubricating the abyss of Starlight’s embrace, the significant weight of her chest on his lap a constant reminder of her persistence. His cock quivered and twitched against the marshmallow walls of its prison, the lips of its warden wrapped tightly around it.

Whatever trepidation remained with him left in a jet of spunk, more eruption than orgasm, a few spurts escaping from the deep fissure of Starlight’s cleavage and painting her face, a sudden, and by appearance, welcome compliment to her now joyous expression. Pulling back, Starlight’s mounds were now likewise coated, white fluid forming the snow-caps to her enormous mountain peaks.

He watched as she rose to her feet, the white dribble streaking down and mingling with the bright blue of her outfit. With a free hand she hefted one enormous breast, the other hand running itself up its flawless surface, collecting cum as it went before taking it into her mouth. Her smile grew wider as her finger entered her mouth. “You always taste so sweet! Like extra thick applesauce! That’s why you’re my favourite sweetie.” She giggled and drew closer. “Wowie! And it looks like somebody is still raring to go too!”

She was right, Mac was still hard, he felt her finger run playfully along his still rigid shaft. “Don’t worry though, I’ll take care of everything.” She leaned forward, once again close enough to his member that he could feel every excited breath, aching for her to close the minuscule distance that separated them. “But not here silly.”

With that, she was upright again, a beckoning look proving more than adequate to have Mac follow suit. “This way Mackie.” He had no thoughts to spare for where she was going, for the fact that he was half naked and turgid as he went along with her, for anything at all, her words simply echoing in the cavernous emptiness of his mind.

He would follow her anywhere.

He chased after her like a dog on a leash, each of his own strides equaling three of hers, but always remaining a step behind as they ventured through one final door and into a truly impenetrable darkness.

Mac soon found himself further into the back, deep enough for the music to disappear almost entirely, in a dark room with a single chair to which his guide directed him to sit. Without a word Starlight joined him, propped up on her knees, holding just above him, hands now on his shoulders, the warmth of her chest now upon his face as she straddled over his exposed waist. He felt her drift lower onto him, slowly, her slit growing tantalizing close to his member.

Then she stopped.

She was poised, centimetres above him, balancing herself precariously, but consistently away from him. Any ideas that remained, more instincts than real decisions were fixed entirely on anticipation, an unquenchable need for Starlight to move just that little bit lower, but an utter inability to conceive of raising himself up to meet her without instruction.

In that moment of expectancy, a harsh light flooded in from behind Starlight, the sudden onslaught all but blinding Mac, but going far further. The brief but stunning illumination banished any shadow of remaining thoughts from his mind. In the brief moment it seared Starlight’s spectacular silhouette into his eyes, a pair of significantly less impressive outlines were also illuminated by the flash, but Mac was in no state of mind to pay them even the faintest bit of attention.

Out of the returned darkness came Starlight’s voice, its cadence scripted and monotonous rather than bubbly and spontaneous. Mac could faintly hear another voice preceding her own, the same words, spoken deeper before being parroted by the woman who now hovered mere millimetres above him. It didn’t really matter though, Starlight was all he could think about, her words were the ones that moved his whole world, when she spoke, she was all he could hear.

“You wouldn’t lie to me would you Mackie?”

Her hands had left his shoulders now, taking his into them and guiding them up to her hips where they gladly took hold.

“Wouldn’t lie to you…”

With his answer Mac felt Starlight finally plunge downward, taking him into herself fully, a reward for his honesty, a reminder of awaited further obedience. She began to rise again, a quaver to her voice now, still devoid of any real emotion, but a clear response to a new sensation.

“Have you told your sister anything Mackie?”

“N – nope.”

Another flash, a long, slow, dive downward, her weight fully upon him, a drawn-out moan passing from her lips as he felt her nails dig into him to keep her balance, his own hands taking tighter hold, fingers sinking through the thin fabric and into her modest waist as the room around him once again faded from view.

“Did you forget like I asked you to Mackie?”

“Forget everything…yup.”

“You’re such a good boy Mackie.” A bit of relief came when her hand separated from his shoulder, he had almost forgotten about the nails that had been burrowing their way into his tanned flesh, any pain or discomfort having been subsumed by more pressing sensations. “I’m so glad that you did that for me.”

He felt her shiver as her free hand peeled off the pasties that had so poorly covered her immense gifts over the course of the night. She was no longer waiting for answers, moving up and down the length of his cock in steady, measured motions, her breasts bouncing and jiggling with each and every drop.

“You’d do anything for me wouldn’t you Mackie?”

Another burst of radiance left his eyes unseeing.

“Y – yup.”

Her hand was on the back of his neck now, gently stroking even as her thrusts became more intense, the pitch of her voice rising and falling with her body, even as her tone remained steady and robotic. She guided him forward, pressing him against her chest, his lips taking hold of a round, rigid nub and beginning to lick and suck.

“Then here’s what I need you to do…”

Author's Note

1) Market Research:
FoalCon, Yah or Nah?
https://linkto.run/p/09RUJQ0O

2) Thanks to SageBrony07 for helping me out with some ideas for this chapter

3) Life is kinda kicking my ass as I lurch from one all-consuming commitment to another, sorry for the wait, hopefully the next chapter will be done more quickly

4) Hope I did the bimbo thing right, its not an area i'm super familiar with

5) How bout that finale eh?! (this was supposed to be done weeks before it aired :'()

6) The usual: suggestions, comments, etc.

7) Fun Fact: I listened to Suddenly Seymour well over 100 times while writing this, so there might be shades of Little Shop buried in this chapter

Ch.5: Boom

Things only seemed to be getting worse.

Applejack and her brother had spent the last couple of weeks running themselves ragged, maintaining the farm and trying to get a handle on the weird things happening in town, and having little time to relax as a result.

Mac was having the worst of it, spending long hours in the fields and even longer ones staking out the creepy building in the woods, but it was no picnic for Applejack either. Any free time she had was dedicated to trailing after friends who were increasingly too busy for her, and whose behaviour became stranger with each passing day. In that time, she had become all but convinced that whatever was happening was affecting more than just Rarity, and it was worrying her to no end.

Pinkie Pie was the easiest to keep track of, a few nights spent watching over the bakery told Applejack that she was still throwing parties, they just didn’t involve her. People she didn’t recognise would stream into the shop after hours and stay late into the night, an air of exclusivity to the events rather than her usual ‘welcome all comers’ fair. Days were little better, every moment not spent at the sweets shop seemed to be reserved for that bitch Aurora, and while it was a small blessing that they were more discreet than they had been before, there were still things that bothered her endlessly.

The collar for one, a tiny leather thing with a heart shaped clasp in the middle that Pinkie had been wearing without exception since they had last spoken. Then there was the waiting, the pink-haired ball of energy whom Applejack had never known to stay in one place for more than a moment would stand stock still outside waiting for her girlfriend, as if her whole world came to a stop when they were apart. On one occasion she had waited outside thirty minutes in the rain, drenched to the bone, but motionless until Aurora bothered to show up.

On the nights without parties she mostly seemed to stay at Aurora’s hotel, but on at least one occasion under cover of darkness she had watched the pair leave for the same woods Rarity had gone to earlier, with Pinkie lead there on all fours in an outfit that could’ve gotten her arrested.

Presumably Aurora had thought no one was watching, or more likely, she just didn’t care, but it was confirmation that others were connected as well, and AJ didn’t like it.

Her other friends were harder to pin down.

Fluttershy was apparently giving private yoga lessons now, or at least that’s where she said she was going in the brief time they had to chat. She had already been hesitant to discuss this with Fluttershy, well aware of how much she took other people’s problems to heart, but it turned out she needn’t have worried. Fluttershy had barely paid attention, her new clothes had invited even more than the usual amount of attention she drew, and although she was still her usual diffident self, Applejack could sense something different. Fluttershy practically revelled in the attention now, she would turn beet red at a wayward comment from a passerby, and then make eyes at them from across the room.

That was enough on its own to justify Applejack’s next steps. Another late night, this time spent watching her cabin, and sure enough, the moment the darkness had fallen, she wandered out and floated away, and while Applejack couldn’t be sure, she could already guess where she was headed.

Dash had probably bothered her the most. Their last conversation had left a bitter taste in her mouth, and while it was still possible Dash had been correct, that all of this was just one big overreaction, Applejack was unwilling to take that chance. Much as she hated to pick favourites, she trusted Dash more than anybody, she was the first person she turned to for advice, and knowing she couldn’t be relied upon was a terrifying prospect all its own, but if she was right, if Applejack really was just out of touch, then she would figure this out on her own.

Then there was Twilight, the only person acting normally, or at least ‘normal’ for her. She and Starlight hadn’t left the castle in ages, and she had to force her way past Spike to even get a conversation with her. They were apparently working on some big project, something that demanded their full attention, to the point where Starlight couldn’t even come to talk. She had come within a hair’s breadth of unloading on Twilight, of telling her everything, but she had seemed normal enough, she wasn’t dressing any differently, swamped and stressed, but that was her more often than not, and what was she supposed to tell her anyway?

That Pinkie Pie had a girlfriend she didn’t like? That Fluttershy was a bit more confident? That Rarity was a bit busier than usual?

No.

Strange building or not she needed proof that she wasn’t paranoid before she was willing to involve anybody else. If there was one thing, she was learning through all of this, it was that she wasn’t as clued into the goings on of her little town as she had once thought, and jumping to conclusions was the last thing she wanted to do.

That was the main reason she was of mixed feeling as she trudged her way once again through the forest. She was wearing… well wearing might have been too generous a description, she was located vaguely within some of Mac’s hand-me-downs, doing her best to pass as the little brother he never had. There was no lack of clothes in her wardrobe that fell well outside even the most charitable use of the term ‘feminine’, mostly flannel shirts and blue jeans, but nothing she owned would adequately disguise her hips, thighs, or rear. Binding her chest was only just barely necessary, neither as ‘lacking’ as Dash, nor as ‘blessed’ as Starlight, but still plenty uncomfortable. Her hair managed to fit under her hat, a lucky break all its own, she was always embarrassed to admit how much she loved her long blonde locks, and while she would have been willing to cut it if it was necessary, she was more than happy for this workaround.

Without Rarity to hem the improvised ensemble them she had done the best she could, but her best was less than impressive. She felt like a child in adults clothing, and it was, to her mind, a miracle in and of itself that she managed to make it past the bouncer, though even that was only because Mac was there to vouch for her.

It was overwhelming.

The sound was an entity all its own, a solid mass that arrived without warning, the bright colours against the darkness an assault on her eyes, all of it at once was almost too much to bare, but Mac left her little time to dwell. The moment they entered he had already taken the lead, directing her to the nearest empty table, with Applejack taking up and hiding behind a menu as quickly as she could manage.

No sooner had they taken a seat however, than had someone already begun to make her way over to greet them.

Their server arrived with a bounce in her step, landing on her toes with a palpable sense of enthusiasm.

“See anything you like handsome?

Applejack felt her jaw go slack, she recognized this woman, or at least she thought she did. Before her stood someone she respected, someone she had voted for, someone who at this moment wore a plaid skirt that ended mere centimetres from where it began, and a top knotted so high on her chest that it would hardly pass for a bra.

“I – I uh…” Applejack watched the stick of a lollipop work its way across her lips, a finger winding and unwinding one of a pair of silver pigtails.

“Sh- He’ll have a number two.” Her brother interjected, passing a pair of bills to their host as Applejack tried and failed to grasp what was happening right in front of her.

“I’ll get right on that.” She replied, removing the sucker from between her lips with an audible pop and gesturing towards Mac. “Nothin’ fer me thanks.”

She shot both of them a wink and took their menus underarm. “Then I’ll be right back cutie.”

Applejack was still trying to figure out exactly what she was supposed to be. The outfit was clearly meant for someone younger, much younger, which made it all the more surreal that, despite, or perhaps because of a few wrinkles here and there, that the woman now sashaying her way away from them wore the whole thing rather well.

The moment the mayor was out of earshot Applejack looked to Mac with a mixture of emotions she could barely comprehend.

“What the heck was that?!” She whisper-shrieked.

“You know who that was.”

“But she was – and her hair was – and what in tarnation did you just order?”

His tone was dour. “You’ll see.”

“The heck I will! we need ta’ get outta here! We gotta tell someone! We-.”

“If we rush outta’ here right after arrivin’ it’ll look suspicious.”

“But-.”

“We need ta’ stay calm, not draw attention to ourselves, we can leave in a little bit.”

Applejack gave him a look, she knew he was right, she hated it, but she understood.

“Where’re the others? Dash? Rare? Shy?”

“Lem’me have a look around, wait here and I’ll be back soon as I can.”

Mac rose to his feet. “Just go with it for now, try not to be conspicuous.” As he began to wander off Applejack was left feeling equal parts confused and enraged. She was still unsure of what she just saw, and felt a creeping sense of dread at the thought of what there might still be waiting for her. The only thing bringing her any sense of comfort was the knowledge that the moment she found out who was responsible for this, she would be sure to make them pay.

Pushing these thoughts from her mind, if only for a moment was difficult but necessary. She was here to learn, she needed to get as much information as quickly as possible, and the first step was surveying her surroundings.

The room really was spectacularly empty. The few patrons she could see were scattered amongst a sea of empty tables, likely meant for nights like the one she had anticipated when she first tried to get in. Her first impression was that this was an especially slow night, but more at issue was that the lack of customers left Applejack with little cover to look around without it being painfully obvious, though whether or not her server was in any fit state of mind to take notice was in serious doubt.

She could see a bar without a tender, an empty grotto with vacant stands. Everything told her there was less going on tonight than should be expected, but with little room to maneuver it was up to Mac to fill in the gaps for now. So, she remained more or less rooted to her seat, dreading whatever would happen next in the waking nightmare she now inhabited.

As the mayor returned Applejack was left taking in every fine detail she had failed not notice in their initial meeting, unsure of whether or not she could look away. The knee-socks that stretched up to her mid-thighs, the tiny, vestigial tie that dangled into the gaping void of her unbuttoned top. It was all too much for her, and the creeping, queasy feeling that sat at the pit of her stomach only got worse as the waitress approached, trey in hand.

Setting it down on the nearest free table the mayor dipped a finger into a single shot glass, tracing a line of clear liquid from just below her navel, up to the thin knot that held her top together.

“First time?” She asked, apparently sensing Applejack’s apprehension.

Trying her best to be calm, the blonde farmer looked up at the woman who stood before her. “Uh…yah, I – I guess so.”

It didn’t help.

The eyes peering down at her, absent her glasses, were the same ones that she had known her entire life, kind, gentle, and compassionate, even as she wedged the tiny glass between her breasts.

“Don’t worry dear, just follow my lead.” The voice was still warm and mothering as her soft hands grasped either side of Applejack’s, face guiding it downward. “Tongue out please.”

Applejack hesitated for a moment, wishing more than anything that the voice guiding her would sound just a little less patient and affectionate, but hesitation soon turned to a begrudging compliance, and her tongue emerged as instructed.

The hands enveloping her pulled her just a little bit closer before taking her upward. “Here we go.” Her motions were tender, never forceful, her skin soft and sweet, the faint taste of strawberries mixing with the bitter taste of alcohol as Applejack’s tongue ran up the length of her stomach, sinking into the her bellybutton and drawing further upward until she met with the ends of her top.

She looked up and saw the same nurturing, almost maternal eyes staring down at her, a soft smile on her lips. “So far so good, now just a little higher.”

She could already guess what was supposed to happen next. The mayor brought her out of her seat, half standing as she approached, lips pursed but reticent, the feel of gentle fingers stroking the back of her neck, no doubt meant to be reassuring but instead feeling perverse and unsettling.

Trying her best to keep her distance, to avoid eye contact, Applejack pressed up against the mayor’s chest, eyes firmly shut. The older woman leaned forward, the glass now up against Applejack’s lips, resisting the urge to pull away as the softness of her breasts gave way against the farmer’s face. Applejack was reminded of how much she hated the taste of alcohol the liquid burned its way down her throat towards her stomach. She did her best to ignore it, to not gag, to not think about what she was doing, opening her eyes when she felt the glass was empty only to realize that her ordeal still wasn’t quite over.

“Almost there dear.”

The mayor’s sucker had been replaced with a thick green object, jutting out from between her lips, and despite another wave of revulsion washing over her, Applejack could intuit what was expected of her.

She was careful to put as much space between them as possible, but she shouldn’t have bothered, the moment she was close the mayor lurched forward, forcing the tiny fruit into AJ’s mouth followed swiftly by her tongue.

The silver-vixen was relentless, evidently eager to impress.

It didn’t last long, but it didn’t need to, Applejack wanted it to be over before it had even begun. The sugary-sweet taste of candy on the mayor’s tongue, the supple texture of her lips, the burning of the vodka and the sourness of the lime all pooled together, a bizarre blend, drowning her in sensation. When she finally pulled back, a thin strand of drool the only thing connecting them, the older woman looking back at her, returning the sucker to her mouth, an almost unnervingly peppy aura radiating off of her.

“Bet your glad you let your friend order for you now huh?”

“Yeah…” She replied through gritted teeth.

The mayor started to recollect her trey, leaning over far lower than was necessary, snow white panties hiked up and exposed, almost certainly for Applejack’s ‘benefit’.

“I’ll be around if you need anything else sweetie.”

Applejack just nodded.

The mayor walked away, leaving the disguised blonde feeling both stunned and humiliated by what had transpired, but her waitress wasn’t quite finished. The erstwhile politician moved on to a new table, trey in hand, adorned by a bottle and empty glass, stopping only a few metres from where she had just been.

She dipped low as she approached, mid-sized breasts suspended from her thin frame, cradled by the tissue thin fabric of her top. Applejack braced herself for the entire production she had just endured to begin again, as the woman poured a light brown liquid into the waiting glass and presented it to a man Applejack simply did not recognize.

The man barely seemed to acknowledge his servers overture taking the glass with little more than a sideward glance.

“UGH!” His face contorted shortly after gulping down the fluid, briefly frozen in disgust before spitting in out directly into the face of his waitress and sending the tumbler clattering to the floor.

“This is awful! You can’t even fetch a decent drink you old cow?”

The politician barely reacted to either the spray or the insult, holding in place despite the sudden onslaught of abuse. “I’m sorry sir, I brought you exactly what you asked for.” There was a tinge of remorse, to her voice, but that aside she remained utterly sanguine, falling to one knee to collect the discarded glass.

The man meanwhile had taken the bottle in hand, tipping it over and pouring glistening liquid atop the head of his kneeling civil servant, drenching her from head to toe. The white portions of her outfit were suddenly transparent, hardened nipples visible through the now translucent fabric that barely concealed them to begin with, sleek argent hair now matted and damp. Still, it barely seemed to register as she dutifully collected the discarded glass before rising to her feet, dripping and wet, but otherwise placid.

“I apologize sir, I’ll find something else.”

“Make it something decent this time or I’ll-.”

The man’s voice was cut off by the sound of his head planting against the table. Applejacks palm pressed against the side of his face, pinning him against the hard surface, her other hand crushing his wrist and forcing his arm back.

She snarled, a caustic, edge to her words. “Apologize to er’.”

“Ahhh, what the hell are you talking ab- AHHHH!”

Applejack began to twist, an almost primal rage ignited within her, savouring every moment as she torqued her subject harder.

“Apologize. Now. Or yer’ goin’ home one arm poorer.”

“What’s your problem man I- FUCK!”

“One more chance.” She hissed, she was serious, a little more pressure was all it’d take.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”

“Louder.”

“I’m sorry!!”

She could see panic in his eyes, darting from her to the mayor, who stood sopping wet, apparently unsure of what to do. Applejack had her apology, but it didn’t matter, not really, he didn’t mean it, and even if he did it didn’t make up for what he had done, what he was probably going to do.

The choice, it turned out, wasn’t hers to make. She recognized Mac’s enormous form force its way between them, a wedge separating her from the scumbag who looked down at his arm like a long-lost friend, unaware of how lucky he was that she had not returned it a mangled stump.

“Sorry bout’ him, he, can be a bit protective of his favourite girls.” Her brother said, gesturing towards the mayor.

He was turning her away now, trying to put as much distance between her and the man she increasingly wished she had dismantled.

“Your friends a psychopath!” The man called after them. “What kinda’ freak considers this ancient hag a ‘favourite’?” He yanked on one of her pigtails as he shouted, sending her tilting to one side. Applejack clawed into Mac’s arm at the provocation, but he continued to sweep her forward, preventing her repeated attempts to pass him by and pummel the insufferable ass in the distance.

They pressed on until they were sufficiently out of sight, but Applejack was still shaking with rage.

“What’re you doin’? We need to get back there.”

“Your makin’ a scene, we need to blend in fer’ now”

“Blend in!?” She slugged him in the arm. “How?! By doin’ body shots off’a our mayor the field hockey player?!”

“I think she’s supposed ta’ be a school girl.”

She hit him again, more out of frustration with the situation than him, not that she was willing to forgive him for that ridiculous stunt either.

“Did you find the others at least?”

“I have an idea of where they’ll be, but we need ta’ get a move on.”

Their next destination was at what she surmised was the building’s centre.

A long stage stretched from the back and into an uproarious crowd, the only part of the entire place that seemed to be as populated as she had expected.

A leering, shouting mass of degenerates were flinging bits onto the stage as an impressively acrobatic woman wound her way down a long metal pole. For the second time that night Applejack was left groping for words as she slowly came to recognize Zecora dancing to the overpowering music.

Downright Amazonian in stature and build, the white-haired woman wore her trademark golden rings, and nothing else as she splayed herself at the base of her metallic companion. Pieces of shimmering, emerald green fabric were strewn along her platform, in the recent past they no doubt afforded her a shred of cover, though based on their size, not much of it, but now she was on display in her entirety and by appearance, loving it.

The pair forced their way towards the front, meeting no shortage of resistance as Mac’s hulking figure blocked for many the view they had come to see. They settled just as the potion master above concluded her set, now bending and scraping for scraps of paper and coins littered along floor. Her task was made all the more difficult by her proximity to hands eager to get more than their money’s worth.

It took every bit of willpower Applejack could muster not to take hold of fingers that wrapped themselves around Zecora’s exposed breasts, to not silence permanently the ridiculous comments made as others laid forceful slaps on her upturned rear. Despite it all the gold-clad dancer went about her task, a stoic expression to her face as she rose to her feet carrying off as much as she could and disappeared behind a curtain into the back.

The brief lull of the music and the absence of anyone for the crowd to hoot at was quickly filled by an obnoxiously upbeat and unseen announcer. “What d’ya say folks? Quite the warmup act eh?”

Two women, clearly on cue, emerged from the back to take Zecora’s place, one tan and lithe, the other pallid and curvaceous.

“But now its time for the main event”

Applejack looked up at the stage aghast as Fluttershy and Rarity wandered out into the spotlight to the almost deafening delight of the audience.

“That’s right everybody! our two most popular products are back in stock!” Applejack was briefly shaken from her shock, she was certain she recognised the voice, but couldn’t quite place it, especially not when it mingled with the jeers and laughter that surrounded her on all sides.

“For auction tonight: A night alone with either of the two lovely young women you see before you. I’m sure you’re all quite familiar with them by now, but just in case there are any first-timers in the audience, why don’t you introduce yourselves?”

Rarity took the lead immediately; her confidence, the only aspect of the situation that felt in any way familiar. “Naturally you all know me as the ravishing and radiant Recherche.” The crowd practically exploded as the towering beauty made her presence known. They thrilled to the sight of her, adorned in a matte bodysuit, its zipper pulled down below her navel, practically splitting it in half, while rest stuck to her like clingwrap. “And of course, you know that no matter how high you decide to bid, that I’m worth Every. Single. Bit.” Her hands rode through her lustrous purple curls as she spoke, drawn up behind her head to put her full, flawless figure as clearly on display as possible. “Your pleasure is my purpose.” Applejack couldn’t believe what she was seeing. “Your wish is my command.” Even less so what she was hearing. “I just hope whoever wins is man enough handle me.”

The aesthete relinquished her spotlight, albeit reluctantly, after striking a few more provocative poses to the endless delight of her spectators. Fluttershy soon moved to take her place, shrinking under the glare of the light as trepidation pervaded the air previously filled by Rarity’s all-consuming zeal.

“I’m – that is – Um…” Flutterrshy could not possibly have looked more out of place. Stood up in front of a crowd was already a bizarre location for her and wearing an outfit somehow even more scandalous that Rarity’s was the ultimate bit of surrealism. A mess of straps extended out like spiderwebs across her thin frame, held together by a few silver rings, and covering little other than her most sensitive areas.

After taking a moment to regain her composure she started again, her voice only just remaining audible in the cavernous building. “People usually call me -.”

“You’re quiet now but I’ll have you screaming my name later!” A wave of scarlet burned like a forest fire across the pink-haired woman’s face, Applejack’s head whipped back, searching for the source of the taunt, but she soon realised it was pointless, it could have been any one them, and there was nothing she could do right now.

“I’m usually called Angelique” She managed to force out after an extended deluge of laughter at the stranger’s remark. “I’m pretty popular, b – but I don’t really know why… I hope someone is willing to pay for me, I’ll try my best to be of use.”

‘Recherche’ stepped out from behind her sheepish companion, piqued either out of sympathy or the need to retake the limelight. “Don’t let the demure façade fool you.” She chirped wrapping hands around the tanned beauty, worming her way under the straps concealed her round, perky chest. “I can personally guarantee that she’s even more eager to please than I am.”

“Recherche please – I - I don’t -.”

“She acts shy, but the truth is she loves all the attention, isn’t that right?” She asked, with a peck on the cheek and a hand rapidly descending her partner’s abdomen. “R-right.”

“And once someone gets you alone, I just know you’ll show them what a good little slut you really are.” A wide, mocking smile accompanied her ‘compliment’. “I – I’ll b a good little slut.”

The announcer returned somehow managing to channel an even greater obnoxious energy. “Whatdaya say folks? Are we ready to start the bidding?”

“70 bits for Fat Tits!” came an over-eager reply, no doubt in reference to Rarity.

“100 for the bean pole.” Came another.

Applejack turned, searching for the lone voices in the crowd, fully intending to burn their faces into her memory and track them down as soon as possible, but their cause was soon joined, and her quest rendered pointless.

“200!”

“500!”

The bids climbed higher by the second as Rarity, spurred on by the attention of her audience, let her hands continue to roam over a Fluttershy either unwilling or unable to resist her advances, the, menagerie-keeper a quivering captive to the fashion queen’s ministrations.

There was little time for Applejack to be stunned, Mac gave her a nudge and, having read his gesture, roused herself from her awed stupor long enough to throw a hand into the air.

“7 – 700, Fer’ that one…”

“1000!”

“1100!”

She had barely had time to lower her arm before her bid was buried and forgotten.

Fluttershy was now unambiguously helpless, everywhere Rarity’s hands went, hers followed, offering weak protest and even weaker resistance. As she melted into Rarity’s arms, she made even easier prey, she squealed and moaned as the designer read and obliged her every move. When her hips began to roll Rarity’s thigh stepped between them and offered her something to grind along, when she turned away from the crowd, Rarity was there to force her face forward, nibbling along her ear and kissing her neck, drinking in her mortified reaction.

The bids climbed steadily, matching every outrageous move Rarity perpetrated on her life-sized doll, and pushing her on towards ever more obscene heights, until finally…

“2500.”

With that, the bids finally quieted down, a man who all but oozed wealth and status had his arm upraised and pointed squarely at Fluttershy. The rest of the bidders had fallen silent, making it clear that no one was willing to challenge the hefty sum, the only voice remaining was that of the announcer and the item for auctions uneven panting.

“It sounds like we may have high bidder folks.”

Applejack felt helpless.

“Going once!”

She needed to do something.

“Going twice!”

She couldn’t let this happen.

“And S-.”

“8000 fer’ both of em’!”

There was a brief silence, Mac looked stunned, AJ was on her feet now, unsure of what would happen next, of what she had even just done.

“A NEW RECORD HIGH BID! SOLD! SOLD! SOLD!”

Cheers and excitement filled the room, while the two women on stage collapsed into one another, either at the revelation of the sum or the sound of their sale. Fluttershy’s thighs slammed together, her hands shot between her legs as she wobbled, barely managing to stay upright. Remarkably, she was still doing better than Rarity, who fell backward, easing off of Fluttershy for the first time since their ‘introduction’ and writhing along the floor.

The room went wild as Applejack and Mac approached the stage, she felt a few revellers pat her on the back, while catching glances of others shooting jealous sneers in her direction, but she had little time to contemplate either. As they arrived front and centre, she looked up at the two women she had just ‘bought’.

The thought made her sick to her stomach.

She offered a hand first to the one who was actually still on her feet, which Fluttershy accepted. Her fingers were damp, but Applejack barely spared it a thought, leading her down off the stage, the winged worrier joined her at ground level, her head slightly bowed.

Rarity was slow to rise, feigning a certain amount of poise, as if she hadn’t spent the last few seconds grinding her way up and down the stage, keen to dismiss or choose not to acknowledge the dark patch between her legs or the faint puddle she was leaving behind.

She too joined Applejack’s growing coterie, if she were herself she might have been delighted that the combination of her thigh-high boots and Fluttershy’s bare feet made her the taller of the pair. At present however Applejack could only wonder at what was going through her friend’s mind, and whether such things were even remotely of concern to her.

While Fluttershy instantly took her place a full step behind Applejack, dutifully waiting to follow her lead in absolute silence, Rarity was more direct.

“So you’re the one who payed all those bits just to spend time with me?” Every single syllable dripped with sweetness, she was already coiling herself around AJ’s arm, pressing up against her. “Not that I can blame you of course, but I’ll have to think of something special to make sure you get your money’s worth.”

Applejack did her best to ignore her, to tune out the noise, turning to Mac for some semblance of reassurance. “Is there somewhere we can go?”

Mac nodded and took a position at the front of the pack, beginning to lead the way, only to be stopped a few steps later by a similarly imposing figure.

“Your currency I must receive, before you are allowed to leave.”

One last unpleasant surprise, if it even qualified as a ‘surprise’ at this point. She should’ve been expecting this, and she hated herself for, on some level, getting used to what was happening around her.

Zecora had been waiting at the crowd’s edge for her emergence with an evidently singular objective. She was dressed now, though with how little fabric there was it was a mystery why she had even bothered. Why she was tasked with collecting the toll was further in question, maybe they were short staffed? It hardly mattered. Applejack retrieved a wad of bills from the pockets of her ill-fitting jeans, keenly aware that it represented the sum total of their remaining savings, that their business, their entire way of life was under threat without it.

Still she handed it to powerfully built shaman, and did so gladly. She had her friends with her now, they were what mattered, and she would be back for everyone else soon enough. Whoever was getting her money would be paying it back personally, she would see to that, but for now she had more important priorities to tend. She felt the bombshell on her arm shiver at the sight of the wad and could faintly hear Fluttershy do the same, but blocked it out as best she could.

“You patronage we appreciate, I hope that you enjoy your mates.”

Applejack forced out a smile, one she knew was almost certainly unnecessary, but she was unwilling to take any chances, not now.

As they walked away the chipper announcer returned one final time, as if intentionally turn her stomach one final time.

“Don’t worry people, the night is still young, you all know what we say when our next performer takes the stage: Hellooooooooo, Nurse!”

She scowled but didn’t look back, it wasn’t important, it wouldn’t change anything.

Mac lead she and their companions to a hallway near the back, dimly lit with ‘VIP’ written across every door that lined the walls. Through each door they passed Applejack could hear the faint sound of moans and groans reverberating from either side, a feeling of disgust welling up within her.

They stopped by a room that appeared unoccupied and made their way inside, Applejack first, with Rarity still very much attached, whispering an endless stream of compliments into her ear. Fluttershy followed silently after, a single step behind as always, with Mac closing and locking the door behind them.

Away from prying eyes, she could, if only for a moment feel relief. She was alone with her friends and her brother, there was something comforting in that knowledge, if nothing else.

Of course she also knew this was only the beginning, it was time to get some answers.

Author's Note

1) This was originally 2 chapters but in the interest of actually meeting a deadline for once I broke it in half since it was overlong anyway (I also cut some corners editing, please don't hate me :'( ). Expect another chapter in like...a few days? probably before Christmas, definitely before New Years.

2) Coming up with "stripper names" is quite possibly the most annoying part of this whole thing now, probably should've made a list in advance

3) comments, suggestions, etc.

Ch.6: Bust

A long sigh passed over Applejack’s lips as the group was sealed inside their plush enclosure. At first sight the whole thing was almost obscene in its decadence, the kind of interior that would befit a Canterlot noble. Every surface was soft and trimmed with gold, the faint scent of lavender hung in the air, it would have been impressive, had she not known how it had been financed.

She turned, drinking in the entirety of the surroundings but stopped about halfway, when her view was to the door through which they had entered. Her brother was still by the entrance, leaning against the wall, but there was a large open space where Fluttershy was supposed to be

“How may I serve you tonight Master?”

Without making a sound the lithe animal keeper had fallen to her knees, kneeling with hands clasped neatly in her lap and a look of total deference in her round, doe-eyes.

“Muh – Master?!”

“Oh, she can be so overly formal.” Rarity intoned with a roll of her eyes. “I know that a man of your exquisite tastes requires more than a simple slave, but she can be rather set in her ways.”

“I don’t need to call you ‘Master’. Came an interjection from below, a quavering tone as if sensing disappointment “Some people prefer Owner, or Sir, if it makes you happy, I’ll call you anything you want.”

“But why call me that at all?” Applejack didn’t really want an answer, things were already moving faster than she could handle, but she had been left in the dark for so long that curiosity was outpacing her better judgement. “Just cause’ it sounds nice? You’re just sposed’ta what? Dance around? Bring me stuff?... Right?”

“Oh Darling, we can do so much more for you than that.” Rarity took the freckled farmer’s hand in hers and brought it up under the wide-open edge of her gaping latex outfit. Before she could react, Applejack felt her fingers sinking into her friend’s more than ample chest, open palm to her warm, supple flesh, as the temptress guided her up and down along her silky-smooth skin.

“We can do anything your heart desires.”

Rarity pressed closer clearly indifferent to Applejack’s almost palpable discomfort.

“I could see the way you were watching me up on stage, I know this is what you were looking for.”

Applejack managed to wrench her hand free, but Rarity was already on to her next play. The suffocating spandex of her bodysuit was no doubt grateful as it was peeled aside at either edge, finally freed from the strain of its host’s immodest curves, their paper white now fully visible in the dimmed light.

“What’re you? -”

“Shhhhh, just let me take care of everything.”

The way Rarity looked at her in that moment, it was intoxicating.

It was a look she had long since grown accustomed to seeing on others, but always directed at one of her friends. More rarely she had seen just the opposite, the same incandescent spark alight in one of those whom she knew best, but always trained elsewhere, no matter how badly she wished it were for her. It was something she didn’t think about much, or didn’t let herself think about, but for that instant, under the blinding spotlight of Rarity’s attention, feeling like an object of true desire, it was paralytic.

“You’re quite strong aren’t you?” Rarity refused to relent; and Applejack found herself barely resisting, as the bombshell undid the buttons of her shirt with exactly the ease one would expect from a master seamstress.

“Rare please -.”

“That stomach, those arms, I love a man who takes care of himself.” The feel of her touch on bare skin was electric, sending tingles everywhere the delicately maintained fingers travelled.

“But there’s one part of you I’d like to get my hands on even more.”

Still, the feel of a hand slithering down under her belt was more of a shock than a simple tingle, and the incapacity that had held the blonde in place disappeared in an instant.

“G – Get offa’ me!” The reaction was instinct in its entirety, she shoved the larger woman back, sending her tripping backward over heels ill-disposed towards balance, and landing on her generous rear.

“Oh my gosh! Rare, I’m sorry I didn’t mean ta -.”

Before the apology could even be spoken the aesthete was already back on her feet, eagerly returning to her previous proximity while Fluttershy remained planted on the floor. “No need to apologise Darling, if I had known you preferred to play rough with your toys, I would have made an offer sooner.”

“T - toys?”

“I should go get some of the equipment we keep in the back, she may not look like it, but Angelique can work wonders with a whip and riding crop.”

“You… you want ’er to hurt you?”

“Well only if you wouldn’t rather do it yourself.” That was the last straw. Applejack gripped onto Rarity’s arms and shook her out of her wistful reverie, ripped off her hat, and stared up into her wistful sapphire eyes.

“Rare… do ya’ know who I am?”

“Of course I do darling.” For the first time that night a feeling of relief crested over the inky blackness that had coloured AJ’s every emotion, but the euphoria was unfortunately short lived. “You are the handsomest, most special man in the world, and I will do anything to make you feel as good as you deserve.”

A long silence followed her exaltation, as Applejack stared up at her utterly earnest expression, every one of her elegantly made up features indicating that she believed each word she had just said.

“Do – Do ya know who you are?”

The second answer was just as emphatic, and self assured as the first. “I am whatever you wish me to be, you bought us, and for the next several hours we are merely your property, mind, body, and soul.”

Applejack’s eyes shifted to Fluttershy, who remained fixed in place, a slight nod of her head acting as her approval, and then to her brother, whose expression remained impassive.

“But yur’ not…”

“Perhaps my gracious guest requires a demonstration of our devotion to his every want and desire.” ‘Recherche’ turned to her prostrate companion and snapped her fingers. “Slave, clean your Master’s boots.”

For the first time since they entered, Fluttershy came to life. Without a hint of hesitation the kneeling woman leapt forward, her tongue on faux-leather before Applejack could even react.

“W-What the heck is she doin’?!”

“Just what I told her to do.” Applejack felt her heel pried up from the floor, the normally reserved woman setting about scouring the bottom of her boot with purpose, repetition, and a complete absence of conflict. “It’s a good thing too, not to offend but those things are absolutely filthy.”

“I knew that! Make er’ stop!”

“She’s yours to command, if you want her to stop you need only tell her so.”

Applejack looked from the designer before her to the animal keeper eagerly kissing a licking the heel of her boot, stuck, they were her friends, she couldn’t ‘command’ them to do anything…

“Of course, I suppose I could do it for you, if that’s what you prefer.” Her fingers clicked again, drawing Fluttershy’s immediate attention. “That’s enough slave.” Fluttershy’s impassioned efforts at cleaning ending the second the order left Rarity’s lips. “Slave, seat.”

Fluttershy rose from her prostrate posture at Applejack’s feet, propped up on her hands and knees with her back rigid and head staring straight downward. As if it were the most natural thing in the world Rarity planted herself upon the bowed woman, crossing her legs comfortably while Fluttershy puffed slightly under the sudden influx of weight.

“You see? Anything your heart desires, you need only to speak it and she will obey, isn’t that right slave?” Applejack watched Rarity slide the thin black strap that sat between Fluttershy’s legs out of place, working a finger in and out of her slit, as casually as if she were playing with a strand of hair. “Y – Yes, anything Master wishes.”

“And – and what about you?” Applejack asked, knowing, but fearing the answer that would come.

“I’m just like her, a servant to your every whim, If you’d prefer me to be an obedient, mindless slave like or a brutal domineering mistress we’ll gladly oblige. We will do anything you ask of us.”

Applejack hesitated for a moment, knowing she was likely shining a light on something better left unexamined, but needing more information all the same. “What do people ask you to do.”

Rarity’s face seemed to light up at the question, only further disquieting her already uncomfortable interlocutor.

“Oh lots of things! My most recent owner was very keen to punish my tits, he said he just loved the way my perfect, milky-white skin showed every little mark.” Her voice was filled with the kind of enthusiasm that normally appeared only when discussing matters of fashion or high society, her hands cupping the subjects of her ‘boast’, still trying to entice Applejack to some depraved action.

“Of course, he couldn’t afford both of us, few people are as well endowed as you are.” Applejack’s skin crawled. “In a situation like this you could each have one of us.” She said gesturing to the mute still near the entrance. “But if there’s someone in particular you fancy, either of us can accommodate the pair of you at the same time.”

Rarity’s makeshift stool squealed under her breath, rocking slightly under the weight she was made to support, reminding AJ that she was still there. “If you feel the need to get a little warmed up first she and I could put on a show together first, I know exactly what this little whore likes.”

“Is there…Is there anythin’ else?”

“I’ve been told that I’m a good little cocksucker, but I don’t think I’m all that speciallllllll!” Fluttershy interjected briefly before her voice disappeared into a sharp shriek. Rarity’s finger now joined by another, spreading her ‘chair’s’ slit wide while her free hand took hold of locks of pale pink hair and yanked them upward. “I don’t believe our master was addressing you slave.”

“Don’t talk to er’ like that!”

Rarity blanched at the outburst, but only for a moment, soon she was back to smiling, clearly looking just as pleased for having roused an order out of Applejack as Applejack was disgusted for having given it.

“As you say Master.”

Applejack was at her limit, this was just… too weird. Everything was wrong, her friends were… these weren’t her friends, and her brother was just there, not saying anything, not doing anything? She needed to leave, they all did, she couldn’t let Rarity or Fluttershy stay here, not like this.

“Kin’ we get out of here?” She asked, the question not necessarily directed at ‘Recherche’ so much as it was to the room.

“You can take us anywhere within the town limits, as long as we leave at a reasonable hour.” Came Rarity’s over eager response. “But if you ask me, time spent walking is time that could be better spent doing something a lot more fun.”

She ignored Rarity, and turned to her brother, still watching in stoic silence. “Is there a way to get outta’ here?” She looked down at her would-be travel companions a moment. “Maybe without bein’ seen.” The front was always, presumably an option, but any unnecessary attention, any opportunity for someone to notice something off, or to interfere, was best not left to chance.

He remained quiet for another moment she guessed he was just thinking things through, it had been a long day, for both of them, even if he didn’t show it. “There’s a back exit we kin’ use.”

“C’mon then, we’re goin’.” She turned to Rarity, still perched upon her erstwhile seat, bright pink lips curled into an unnerving smile. “Kin’ you get off’a her please?”

“At once Master.” Applejack scowled as she bent lower, offering a hand to Fluttershy who dutifully accepted. “I’m gonna be callin’ you Rarity and Fluttershy, think you kin’ handle that?”

“Hmmm, usually when owners ask for a name a change its something like ‘Sugar Tits’ or ‘Fuck Bunny’”

“Or ‘Suck Machine’.” Fluttershy interjected.

“But ‘Rarity’ is quite a pretty name too I suppose.”

“And you kin call me Applejack stead'a Master.”

“As you wish Applejack.” The tone of her voice left AJ feeling guilty, if only for a second. She’d almost prefer going back to ‘Master’ if it meant not listening to her name spoken that way, but something so trivial wasn’t really at issue right now.

“Let’s get the heck outta’ here.”

Mac opened the door and lead the quartet out into the dingy hallway, taking them back out toward the open space of the foyer while Applejack brought up the rear. It occurred to her, as they navigated their way further into the building’s innards, how perversely fortunate she was that neither of her friends were thinking straight.

Rarity, perhaps could have suffered through the scandal of laying herself so fully on display, if anything it would be the ‘unladylike’ behaviour that would bother her most. Even as they trudged their way forward, she turned back every so often, pulling some part of her clingy ensemble aside and flashing Applejack a peak at whatever she thought would get the largest response, or occasionally making some obscene gesture with her hands. Still, she was more resilient than people suspected, but Fluttershy was different story.

Applejack had seen more of her tonight than she had in all the years they had known one another. If she knew that at this moment her, friends, let alone total strangers could see almost every last centimetre of her it would drive her to hysterics, and if she knew the only thing left to provide cover was made of leather… well it didn’t matter, she could worry about that once they were safe. She would take them straight to the castle, Twilight could help, she could protect them, and fix them, and then probably flatten the building while she was at it. Bringing them there dressed like this would be a horrendous task, but the alternative was worse, she’d make it work somehow, they just needed to go.

Moving towards the rearmost wall, she could feel the anticipation. An end to this painful ordeal finally in sight, a chance to get finally get some answers. Mac opened it wide, and into the aperture they stepped, into the darkness one final time.

The door clicked closed and the group was plunged into total darkness.

“Where to now Mac?”

Silently he lead them a few metres forward before stopping abruptly. The lights in the room came to life and Applejack felt his massive hands on her shoulders exerting his full weight on her and spinning her 180 degrees, facing the entrance through which they had just entered. As her eyes adjusted, she found that they weren’t alone, and those that she saw, she recognised instantly.

“Pinkie!”

Without really thinking she rushed forward, it had felt like an eternity since they had been in the same room together, let alone face to face, but Mac’s grip on her only tightened and stalled her momentum before it started.

She did her best to turn, and saw him stone-faced, beyond his usual stoicism he looked almost empty, and as she turned to face Pinkie Pie again, she noticed much the same thing. As her vision expanded, Starlight and Rainbow Dash came into view, all in varying states of undress and a chill wound its way up her spine.

“Mac?”

He didn’t move.

“Let go’ve me we gotta’ get the others.”

His grip only tightened.

“Sorry, but he doesn’t work for you anymore.”

“He’s gotten a better offer.”

From out of the shadows emerged two well dressed men, identical in their lanky stature and over groomed appearance, save for a ridiculous mustache that made it possible to tell them apart.

Applejack glowered the instant she saw them. “You two.”

“I told you she’d remember us.”

“When you’re right, you’re right, I guess she’s not quite as stupid as I thought.”

Of course, she remembered them, two of the most reprehensible people she had ever had the misfortune of meeting now stood before her, an almost palpable aura of arrogance and self satisfaction radiating from them as they stepped fully into the light.

“The Flim-Flam Brothers.”

“The Amazing Flim-Flam Brothers ®.”

“We’ve got a brand to maintain after all.”

Barely ten seconds had passed, and she was already sick of them, merely being in their presence was rapidly taking her from angry to furious, feelings of rage quickly approaching the point at which they would boil over.

The lights in the room expanded and more fully illuminated her friends, standing at attention, staring off into the void, all in varying states of undress, reminiscent of how she had found both Rarity and Fluttershy, but lacking even the most basic signs of personality or awareness. The only indication that it was them and not some bizarrely realistic imitations was the rise and fall of their chests, coming in eerily perfect unison with one another.

“What’ve you done to my friends?” She asked through gritted teeth.

“Our employees.” One of them corrected, an imperious timbre to his voice.

“They’re not your employees, they’d never work for creeps like you, they’re my friends.”

The other heaved a sigh, looking in her direction, but more through than at her. “Recherche and Angelique, your services are no longer required, please return immediately.”

All at once Rarity and Fluttershy stood bolt upright, taking rigid steps away from Applejack and towards the pair of slimy businessmen across the room.

“Wait! Rare, Shy don’t go!” As the pair began to shrink away there was little indication that they had heard her, not even a hint that they had acknowledged her entreaty.

“Let me go Mac, let me go!” Her brother remained steadfast his hands planted firmly. “Recherche! Angelique!” she shouted in desperation. “I – I order you to stop, right now!”

The pair faltered, if only for a moment, frozen mid step, equidistant between her and the brothers at the mid point of the room.

“I order you to come back here.” She said, a dark, hollow feeling in the pit of her stomach as she watched the gears grind in her friend’s heads, turning towards her with an unnatural slowness, the conflict shining through in every rough movement.

Flam sighed and moved closer, closing the distance between them. “Seems like we might have trained them a little too well.”

“I warned you about all that ‘the customer is always right’ stuff.”

Flam laid a hand on Rarity first, midway through her about-face, placing his palm on her forehead.

“Recherche, you are a defective product and are being recalled.”

The purple-haired aesthete’s inconsistent momentum halted entirely, looking to be frozen in time as hands that had no business near her rested on her brow with a disturbing air of familiarity.

“Defective…product…understood.”

He then moved to Fluttershy and, seconds later she too was turned around, taking robotic, empty steps towards the far wall.

“Stop! Fluttershy Stop! I order you to come back here!” the words tasted like ashes in her mouth, she was disgusted speaking them, her anguish made all the worse by the fact that they had no effect whatsoever. “You – You can’t go with them!” She needed to stop them, she needed to do something, anything. “You belong to me, you can’t go!”

“Friends eh? those didn’t sound like the kind of things someone says to their friends.”

Applejack could only watch as they took their place next to the rest of the group, a complete set save for herself and Twilight. Her breathing was coming in short, rattling bursts, but she needed to calm down. She needed to be strong. If she was going to get out of this, if she was going to help them, she couldn’t let these assholes get to her, not again.

“No matter what you did to them, they’re not your employees.” She hissed, doing her best to sound intimidating.

“You’re right, technically I think we have them labelled as office equipment, saves on taxes.” Applejack suppressed a retch.

“I knew you two were low, that ya took it hard the last time I beat you, but goin’ this far? Even for you two this just awful.”

“There is no ‘low’, we’re just supplying a demand.” Flim replied with proud indifference.

“And you didn’t ‘beat’ us last time, you cheated.” She had almost forgotten how obnoxious it was, the way they finished each others sentences, taking turns to top the others smarmy affect, everything about them made her sick to her stomach.

“So what? Your plan was to come to my town and do… something to my friends, my brother, to use them for this… thing? All just cause’ you couldn’t manage to run a decent cider business.”

Flam’s face twisted into something angry, something uglier than it had already been. “You. cheated.” He spat, giving her an idea in the process. “And we don’t believe in revenge, there’s no profit in it.”

“We are selling fantasies here! Dreams!”

“We picked this town because there was an ample supply of untapped, high-quality product.” Flam paced back and forth as he spoke, stopping at Pinkie Pie. “A wide variety for which we could charge top dollar!” The fingers of his left hand sank into her tummy as he spoke, the right mussing with a mop of curly pink hair, her head lolling back and forth without even a trace of resistance. “Afterall, who wouldn’t want to spend some… quality time, with the most famous and beloved party planner in all of Equestria?” It took everything Applejack had not to thrash and scream, every second she allowed them to spend near her friends felt like the worst sort of betrayal.

“Maybe you’ve grown tired to high society snobs looking down at you.” He had moved onto Rarity now, taking great pains to deliberately taunt Applejack it seemed. “And all you want is to take one of them down a peg.” The crack of skin on skin echoed through the semi-darkness, a bright red handprint now stained one of Rarity’s cheeks. Her head jerked with the force, but that aside there was no reaction whatsoever, she returned to looking straight ahead as if it never happened, but Applejack felt the pain just as much as if it were her own.

Finally, he settled on Rainbow Dash, and for a split second rage turned to fear. “Or maybe…” He bent practically in half to reach down to her level, his hand slithering its way around her torso and down to her waist. Fingers slipped into Dash’s miniscule pink shorts, emerging slick only a second later. His hand rose up to her face, effortlessly slipping between her lips, and Rainbow Dash, without any instruction, with an almost reflexive automation, began to suck and lick the intrusive appendages. “Maybe you’ve just always wanted to fuck a Wonderbolt.”

The faint taste of iron emerged in her mouth, a thin trickle of blood as her jaw clenched harder, but still she put on her best impression of a calm, collected voice.

“So you expect me ta’ believe that you got my brother and most’a my friends here together, just for the heck’ve it? Without ever thinkin’ about how badly you’n’urs got whopped?”

“Well once we knew you were spying on us, we decided messing with you was probably within our budget.” He took a step away from Dash as he spoke, a good start, but not enough.

“Of course, we still needed compensation, once your brother and I became more acquainted he mentioned a certain someone kept the farms finances rather close to her chest.”

Closer still.

“So of course we had him convince you to bring what paltry sum you had to pay for this whole thing. Taking our most popular attractions out of circulation is pretty pricey, even if its just for a night”

“Once we had that, leaving you to spend time with those two was just a bit of fun, a little goof until you tried to leave. To be honest I’m surprised you didn’t take longer, he told us all about how mopey you’ve been without your little pals to spend time with.”

He was almost within arms reach now, Flim stood off to the side, evidently bored with the line of questioning, but Flam was getting more stuck in by the second.

“You did us a favour though, coming through the back, he had orders to drag you here if necessary, which could've made quite the scene.”

“Just be honest, this whole thing, all of it only happened cause’ I made the big bad businessmen feel small, that’s why you waited till’ now to pull me in, an’ that’s why you’re drawin’ this out.”

His face twisted into a cruel sort of smile, but he didn’t budge, she just needed a little him to move, just a little bit more.

“We didn’t ‘wait’ to do you, we weren’t going to do you at all, sure we picked out some lower tier talent to fill out the ranks, to provide for those who can’t afford to go top-shelf, but at the end of the day we’re running a business, and we need people to pay…”

Finally he approached, leaning over so that they were practically nose to nose, a condescending glint in his eye as he looked down at her.

“And well, who would ever pay to see you?”

Applejacks’s right leg shot upward with all the force she could muster, connecting with Flam’s chin, lifting him off of the ground and sending him reeling backward. It was hard to overstate the pleasure that came with that one fluid motion, how good it felt in that one brief moment to see that slimeball’s face contorted in surprise and pain, but it was a moment she couldn’t savour for long.

Her foot slammed downward, her heel striking her brother’s foot with the weight of a sledgehammer. He said nothing, but she felt his hands loosen, it was just a little, but it was all she needed. Her fingers dug into his arm as best they could, whipping downward and pulling the behemoth over her shoulder, he was more than twice her size, but she had leverage and experience on her side, powered by determination born of crisis and anger.

The room shook with the sound of her brother colliding with the floor, crushing the salesman underneath like the slug he was. There was a sickening pang of guilt, but she buried it as deeply as she could, tried not to think about it, her only option was forward, Mac would be fine.

Vaulting over the collapsed pair, she bolted towards the door. Flim shrieked off to one side.

“Stop her you morons!”

“Get the other one.” His twin wheezed from underneath her brother’s enormous weight.

The delicate, familiar feeling of Rarity’s magic took hold of her arm, along with another odd sensation upon her leg. If she couldn’t see it, she never would have known the latter to be Starlight’s magic, the feeling was strange, almost unrecognisable in its infirmity. There was a brief tug backward, an ephemeral force trying to push her away, but neither could exert enough energy to stop her. She tore through both, the former accustomed to stitching a hemming rather than containment and the latter utterly failing in a way that Applejack had never before seen, but she didn’t dwell, simply thankful that things seemed to be going her way as she ran towards the door.

Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie had taken position between her and the exit, but she wouldn’t hesitate, she couldn’t. She blitzed forward, leaning into a tackle, holding back wasn’t an option, if she didn’t get out now, if she didn’t get to Twilight, if she didn’t find help…

She plowed through both of them, neither offering much resistance. She would never forgive herself if she hurt them, she would beg for their forgiveness, but that could only happen once they were safe, and she needed to make that happen.

‘Don’t think about it’ she told herself, as she plunged through the first door and into the building proper, cursing as she went, the ridiculous clothes that impeded her every stride.

The sights and sounds were more familiar to her now, the obnoxious music, the view of the repulsive clientele and the various members of her community who serviced them were now a relief, if only because it meant she was closer to escape.

She charged heading towards the entrance, towards freedom, towards help. Past Zecora, past the Mayor, past everybody whom she knew she would be back for if only she could just make it to the castle.

Just as she blew by the centre stage, presently occupied by Nurse Redheart and surrounded by a loose smattering of spectators, a streak of rainbow light blew past her, accompanied by the overwhelming rumble of thunder.

Applejack’s heart dropped, as Rainbow Dash appeared practically from nowhere, only a few metres ahead.

More so than any of the others she dreaded this moment.

Despite her best efforts to force them away, memories flooded in. She could recall in perfect detail all of the bets, the contests and the sparring matches that had come to define their decades long friendship with one another.

Every joint lock and tap out were as fresh in her mind as the day they had happened. Her fondest memories twisted into something ugly, mocking and cruel as she starred down woman stood before her.

She remembered the time they promised to stop keeping score, and laughing themselves sick only seconds later.

At last count the tally was 31 to 20, Dash’s favour, but the woman in front of her wasn’t the same one with whom she had competed so many times before.

There were openings everywhere, and AJ wouldn’t slow down.

‘She can take it.’

She pressed forward, as quickly as she could.

‘She’s been through worse.’

Applejack wouldn’t slow down.

‘I’m so sorry.’

One block and a single fist that met with brief resistance before sinking into Dash’s stomach.

Applejack didn’t look back, did her best to shut out the sound of her closest friend falling to the floor, but knowing that moment would haunt her for the rest of her life.

She was almost there, a few more steps.

A flash of pink light flared behind her but it didn’t matter she was at the door, three steps away and she would be out.

Then she stopped.

Not by choice, every muscle in her body was pushing to their limits, her mind focused on willing herself those few extra metres, hand outstretched, so close to her goal, but it just wasn’t happening.

The air around her had turned to concrete, her vision filled with twinkling lavender light as her one and only goal began to shrink away from her, her feet lifting off the ground as began to be dragged backward.

“Sorry about that folks, dances and drinks are half off for the rest of the night!”

The air around her refused to move, frozen even her lungs tried desperately to drag it in. Her vision began to fade, her body turning, stranded in mid-air, towards two familiar faces. Flim looked at her with annoyance and disdain, and the other - Twilight, eyes aglow with magic, watching but unseeing, totally expressionless. Applejack made one final
attempt to call out, but it died in her throat, suffocated, as her vision began to fade and she slipped into unconsciousness.

Author's Note

What a long "week" its been, took a vacation, got weirdly obsessed with Bloodborne and Legally Blonde, then had to take care of other priorities and lost a lot of momentum in the process.

Really regretting cutting corners now and rushing through the stretch between chapters 4~5, but I suppose this is how we learn...

Annnnnyway, sorry this ones not quite as 'fun' as the others, this is the overly melodramatic portion of the story so sorry for the relative lack of sexy bits, they'll be more prominent in future, just gotta keep things moving.

Next chapter will be a bit of a wait while I write up a separate short story that'll go up as soon as It's done, then back to this.

the usual: questions, comments, concerns,

Ch.7: Acquisition

“Wakey, wakey! Eggs’n’bakey!”

Applejack’s headache was excruciating.

Her every heartbeat rattled through her skull like a charging locomotive, anguish left in it’s wake as she struggled to open her eyes.

“There she is! Welcome back, sleepyhead!”

Even in near total darkness, tiny fragments of light burned the farmer’s eyes like acid, leaving her to blink dumbly as the blurry impression before her slowly began to register.

A wide, toothy grin was the first thing to come into focus, hemmed in by lips painted bright orange and resting below eyes of shimmering blue. “Pinkie? Where’re-"

“Mister Flim! She’s awake now!” The sing-songey squeal of her friend’s voice threatened to split her blonde head in two. Hands rushed to cover her ears, but found their attempt thwarted, their failure bringing with it the sudden realisation that she was chained to the chair in which she sat.

“What in the heck…?”

Looking down she caught sight of herself, half illuminated by the dying light from a distant source. The sight of her freckles, dotting her skin threw her slightly, as did that of her toned stomach and pink nipples perched on modest breasts. Groggy as she was, the fact that she was naked only partially registered.

“Oh, really? How wonderful.” A man strode into what remained of her field of view, his presence seeming to draw every last sliver of Pinkie Pie’s attention, her eyes turning almost worshipful as he looked her up and down. “And you, my little employee, don’t you have somewhere else to be?”

Applejack had been half wondering that herself. In the moments when pain and confusion could be put aside, her thoughts had turned to the bright orange shorts that matched her friend’s lips. They sat high on her hips, and on top of pantyhose that clung tightly against creamy legs and thighs. Her top was simple, a plain, white half shirt with text that she couldn't quite make out. Perky breasts and pert, thick nipples were unobscured by tissue-like fabric, her tummy peaking out underneath.

“I’m late for my night shift at the bakery.” She beamed.

The response sat strangely with a still dazed Applejack. The bakery wasn’t open at night. Even if it were, there was no reason for her to be dressed like that to work the back as she usually did – to be dressed like that at all in fact. Dressed like that she looked almost like a… like a…

All at once the memories came flooding back to her, an overwhelming tidal wave of negative emotion washing away the relative calm of the last few seconds. Before she even knew what was happening she could hear the sound of her chair rattling against the hard floor as her limbs struggled against her enclosure, hands reaching in vain towards the man standing opposite her desperate to wring his scrawny neck with his own ridiculous bow-tie.

“I see somebody’s back to her usual energetic self.” His hands took hold of Pinkie’s tummy, turning her already joyous smile into one of pure ecstasy. “I think that might be your cue-“ His left hand bopped her on the tip of her nose while his right slithered over to her rear and grabbed hold. “To get this fat ass of yours back to work.”

“Okie Dokie, Mister Flim!”

The pink-haired party planner began to bound her way beyond Applejack’s view, unresponsive to her groans and grumbles, her voice refusing to come to her as her sore throat struggled to fully form a phrase. The clicking open of a door somewhere behind her came and went, the return of music briefly penetrating the room and driving yet another spike into Applejack’s mind before vanishing and leaving her, to the best that she could tell, alone in darkness with a man she now recognised and loathed.

As the restrained blonde looked him over, she could see little other than the infinite number of ways that she would make him suffer, every horrible punishment and painful bit of retribution that she would personally inflict if only she could break free from her bonds.

“Y’know, you really shouldn’t scowl like that.” He said, his hand running along her face, sending waves of disgust that permeated to the depths of her soul. “You’d look a lot prettier if you cracked a smile once in a while.”

Applejack’s expression only hardened, carving itself into her features as if they were set in stone.

“You never did know good advice when you heard it.” He sighed. “Otherwise, we wouldn’t even be here. I'd be on your farm, and you'd be retired on a beach someplace. I suppose it doesn’t matter too much though, we’ll have you fixed up soon enough.”

Applejack surveyed her environment as best she could. The room seemed large, with a wide hallway to one side, but, unable to turn her head, and still surrounded by inky black, there was little else she could glean. As near as she could tell she was back in the room where she had last encountered the pair, as well as her friends, though even that remained little more than a best guess.

“How’s yer’ brother?” She croaked, trying her best to exude confidence and venom as best she could even as sore throat continued to object.

“Ah, y’know, a little worse for the ware, but nothing too serious. We do have an excellent nurse on staff after all.”

She cursed under her breath.

“In fact, I’d say you did me a bit of a favour.”

In between heartbeats that rattled through her brain, she tried her best to concentrate. She knew she could figure a way out of this if she could just get a better idea of what she was up against, if she could just keep him talking.

“How so?”

“He tends to get a bit personally invested in our endeavours. I tell him over and over again that business is business, but does he listen?” He shrugged. “But what are ya’ gonna’ do? He’s still my brother. I guess we have difficult brothers in common now, don’t we?”

Applejack growled.

“Hopefully your little temper tantrum taught him a bit of a lesson, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.”

“Y’think that was a temper tantrum? Jest’ wait till’ Ah get outta’ this chair!”

“Y’know, it is exactly that sort of enthusiasm and can-do attitude that I hope you’ll bring to your new role in our little social enterprise.”

“Y’think yer’ gonna’ jest turn me in ta’ one’a yer’…”

“Well, we’re going to try. Obviously we have a lot less to work with, but we’re going to do our best.”

“Ah’ve seen yer’ best.” She replied, voice thick with contempt. “Ah’m bettin’ It’ll be quite a while before yew’ kin’ get me in one’a those little outfits’a yers’.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure.”

She heard a pair of clicks behind her that she recognised as the opening and closing a door, the brief sound of music that penetrated the largely silent room offering a fresh reminder of her pounding head.

“You’re not the first one to give us a bit of a hard time, after all.”

As if on cue, Applejack caught sight of narrow hips and a toned rear, locked in a joyous stride as their owner parked herself between them.

“Speaking of which-“ He continued, putting hands on the woman’s shoulders and turning her to face Applejack. “Look who’s here!”

The sight of a familiar face brought no relief.

Starlight Glimmer stood before her, all but dripping with... well Applejack preferred not to speculate. An enormous wad of bills was clutched to her over-ample chest, a beaming smile just like Pinkie Pie’s before her, and arranged beneath eyes that appeared utterly vacant.

“Say hello to the newest member of our staff.”

“Helloooooo.” An exaggerated wave accompanied her proclamation as she perched herself on one toe, a sort of excitement that Applejack had never seen in the normally reserved woman even as her squeal pierced her mind like a harpoon.

“You should go introduce yourself.” She practically leapt toward Applejack, her sudden start and stop giving new life to massive mounds.

“Nice to meet you! My name is-” She said, extending a hand that Applejack couldn’t shake even if she had wanted. A long pause followed, her brow furrowed in concentration.

“Starlight?” She asked, still in disbelief.

Star gasped with nothing but sincerity in her voice. “How’d you know‽ Wait! What number am I thinking of?”

Her hand was still outstretched, trickles of white flowing down her chest and dripping onto Applejack’s lap.

“Three.” Flim interjected from over her shoulder, causing her to spin on her heel.

“How are you two doing that‽”

“Lucky guess. Plus, I’m pretty sure it’s the highest one you know.”

“Nuh-uh! I had-“ She stopped for a second, holding her free hand in front of her face, eyes moving from one finger to the next. “This many customers just now!” She finished, holding her hand up with all five digits extended. “That’s way more than three!”

“That’s very impressive.” He cooed. “Can you show Applejack?”

“Who?”

Applejack saw him point over Star’s shoulder and like a top she spun again, hand still spread and smile still wide. “I sucked and fucked this many!”

Applejack felt a new sensation, a new sort of terror taking hold as she looked into Star’s vacuous eyes and saw nothing of what she had been expecting. Pinkie’s had at least belonged to her, even Rare and Shy still looked themselves, but Star seemed different.

“Isn’t that amazing, Applejack?” He asked, as Star nodded enthusiastically, sending ringlets and curls flying in every direction. “Hard to believe that this one gave us even more trouble than you did, eh?”

His hand slithered underneath Star’s arm, beginning to grope at her chest as Applejack could only sit and watch.

“She was probably our worst acquisition at first. Nearly brought the whole building down a couple times, and even after that we caught her stealing company property too. But look at her now, a model employee.”

His hand found her nipple and began to twist and tug, Starlight’s smile turning wider and more crooked, total ecstasy and pain painting dual portraits on her face.

“We almost figured things out too late, but once we did, we knew that big sneaky brain of hers had to go, so we just turned the whole thing off.”

Star’s hand joined his, guiding and encouraging him as he toyed with her further.

“We thought we might’ve gone a bit too far when she couldn’t even remember the stage names we gave her, but better safe than sorry, right?”

“Yer’ a monster.”

“I’m a businessman.” He scolded. “Just like you, I offer a useful service, I give purpose and employment to my loyal employees, and I turn a tidy profit for my troubles.”

“Y’call this purpose‽”

“Wouldn’t you? Look how much happier she is working for me. You’re much happier this way, aren’t you Star?”

Star giggled and groaned, her tongue lolling from between her lips, ropes of drool mingling with ropes of white liquid. “Sooooooooo haaaaaaaaaappy.”

“You, see? That’s what business is all about. I give someone something they give me something in return. Everyone wins. So, tell me, what is it that you want?”

“Ah’ want yew t’rot in Tartarus.”

“Well obviously that’s not going to happen.” The hand that had been on Star took hold of Applejack’s hair, wiping itself off with golden locks. “I get it though, you’re playing hardball and I can respect that. Negotiation is something of a specialty of mine. We’ll get you figured out soon enough.”

Freed from his grasp, Star continued to jiggle and grope of her own accord, as if by instinct alone.

“And speaking of reciprocity, do you have something for me, Starlight?”

“Oh right!” She replied, taking the near-forgotten wad of bills and passing it to him. “Stupid Starlight! Almost forgot.”

Her second hand free, it joined her first, bouncing her breasts up and down, playing with the weight, mesmerised by the sight of her own body in motion.

“Did you make sure to have one of the others count it?”

“Mhmm! I know you don’t want me adding up all the big numbers by myself.”

His thumb ran through the stack. “Verrrrry good. Just what I’d expect from one of our top earners.”

Star giggled. “Everybody loves Stupid Starlight!”

“They sure do. If you can keep this up for the rest of the night, I’ll need to give you a little reward.”

Her face shone brightly, a slight gleam to otherwise empty eyes.

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

“I’d love it!”

“Well then, we’ll have to get you back out there, won’t we?” He turned to the back and called. “We need some help out here, my little Assistant Manager.”

The sound of clicking heels punctuated the brief silence that followed, echoing down the hallway, growing louder with each step.

Applejack had thought that her heart could not possibly sink deeper, yet one final time the pit in her stomach opened wider and swallowed her whole.

Twilight emerged and approached the trio with an eerie air of calm, unlike the manic mien of the two women who had come before. Instead, she arrived without emotion, stopping nearby with hands neatly clasped over her lap.

“Can I be of assistance, Mister Flim?”

The question hung in the air a moment, her ‘boss’ leaving her to stand stock still, as if to delight in the mere sight of her awaiting a reply, or perhaps for Applejack to voice yet more of her disgust.

In truth, there was an odd current of relief that flowed beneath her still overwhelming unease.

Unlike Star, there was no shiny veneer of… something, nor did she seem particularly out of sorts. In that one warped moment, she was glad to see that Twilight looked almost normal.

Still, Applejack knew better.

Though she was far better off than her other friends, this was still far from typical.

Twilight’s outfits, aside from Fluttershy, were the most conservative among their group. The bookish princess had always favoured simplicity bordering on monotony.

There was the briefest memory of a game played with Dash. They had been certain her clothes followed a pattern, that she chose them by way of some complicated equation, going so far as to bet rounds of cider on what the next day’s would be.

Neither would have guessed this one, though.

A blouse, perhaps a size or two too small, considering how it rode up her modest frame, an a-line skirt, though one far shorter than was the norm, an unassuming pair of stockings, and plain black heels. Her long, deep-blue hair was done up in a bun, though her fringe and bangs remained loose, and her pouty lips were painted to match.

“You certainly can!” He exclaimed, pulling Applejack back to the present. He pinched her cheek as he drew closer, eliciting not even the slightest change in her expression as he did. “Would you mind making our merchandise look presentable while I prepare our new recruit for orientation?”

“Of course, Sir.”

Applejack braced herself for some new awful, humiliating display. She had seen how they treated her friends, she could only imagine what they would do with Twilight. Yet as he walked away, Twilight didn’t move to lick Star clean. Nor did she strip her down, or even lay a hand upon her. Instead, magic took hold of her, prying her hand from her breasts and fixing her in place.

“Stop it! That tickles!”

Star’s comment didn’t seem to register. The pink aura that engulfed her flared brightly, reviving the slowly receding pain in Applejack’s head, then dulled into nothingness, leaving Star standing right where she had been. Wisps of steam drifted lightly from her body, but everything was gone. Her smile was still there, every curl was in place, the fine meshwork of fabric that covered her from ankle to neck hardly seemed to have changed. In the blink of eye, she looked like a new woman.

“What did you do?” Applejack asked.

Twilight didn’t’ reply, speaking to the open air instead. “She’s been sanitised.”

Applejack was agape. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind that Twilight could be capable of something so precise, she would trust her to do almost anything with magic, but to see her do it so casually, something so dangerous had eliminated whatever good faith had remained.

“Pretty cool, eh?" Flim returned from the hall, a rope slung over his shoulder, dragging something large behind him as he went. "She’s quite the time saver.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

Whatever was trailing behind him, it was large, hardly managing to fit through the doorway. Though covered by a white sheet, Applejack could make out it's crude shape, along with the creaking wheels beneath it and the wires that hung loosely at its sides as it came to a stop directly in front of her.

“Tell me, what do you think is the best way to get the most out of our girl here?”

Twilight blinked, once, then again, her chest beginning to rise and fall with deep, measured breaths as her eyes shut themselves entirely.

“Recherche and Angelique have been rented to private buyers. All of your top talent is currently in use. Higher bidders are currently spent and won’t be back until tomorrow at the earliest. For maximum profit at this time, the optimal strategy is to prioritise volume of business and extraction from remaining patrons over quality of clientele.”

His teeth shone brightly in the darkness, turning to a grin that sent a chill down Applejack’s spine.

“I couldn’t agree more!” He swept over to the newly refreshed Starlight, and took her face in his hands, smooshing her cheeks and rocking her from side to side. “I don’t suppose you got all of that, Bubble Brain?”

“Whose ‘Bubble Brain’?”

Flim chuckled. "Bubble Brain, is someone whose going to make he a whole bunch more bits tonight with her giant, lewd tits."

"Really?! She sounds nice!"

"Oh, she is!" He replied. "But first, would my Assistant Manager mind grabbing me a marker from my desk?"

Twilight disappeared as quickly as she had arrived, the click of her heels growing more and more faint as she once again vanished from view. To see her this way had left Applejack without words, yet even in her absence they came to her only partially.

“So she – she’s not…?”

“Of course, not! Even businessmen have their limits. Do you really think we would sell out the symbol of our nation for a few bits?”

Applejack’s eyes, wide in disbelief, narrowed slightly.

“Sure, the thought crossed our minds! In early days we may have even made an attempt or two, but financial issues forced us to reconsider, and now we know better.”

“Ah’ guess even the low-lives you work with have some standards.”

“Quite the opposite, actually. For the few times we had her up front she was by far our most profitable attraction.”

The thought sickened Applejack, but she still she pressed on. “Then why-“

“Because that’s the difference between a true businessman, and a poseur like yourself. It’s not about making a lot, it’s about making more.”

Once again he took Star’s chest into his hands, to her evident delight, toying with them as idly as one would a strand of hair. “See, unlike this one.” He said, crushing them together, eliciting a joyous squeal from their host. “The princess took to following orders like a duck to water. All the same brains, but none of that pesky attitude to get in their way.”

Applejack heard the faint sound of heels again, signalling the return of their topic of conversation.

“We brought her back here after a show one night, and before we even knew it, she was filing our taxes.”

“You pay taxes?”

“Not anymore! I think now we’re registered as some sort of charity for wayward girls. It was amazing! Budgeting, resource allocation, just put her in front of a problem, wind her up, and watch her go.”

Applejack almost regretted the relief she felt seeing Twilight as ‘normal’. Knowing she was of more help to them as she was, was almost enough to make her wish she had been turned like Star.

“No matter how much we could make charging people to see her, we could always make more keeping her back here.”

Twilight had sidled up behind him, though keeping a respectful distance. Without even turning to acknowledge her, one hand ceased pawing at Star long enough to motion for something, and dutifully, Twilight deposited a silver marker into his waiting grasp.

“So, what do you think we can get out of her?”

“50 bits now, less 10 every hour would likely maximise return for the remainder of the night.”

That horrible smile he wore only seemed to grow, a plague upon Applejack’s vision.

“Think you can remember that?”

“Nuh uh.”

He took the marker between his lips and pulled the cap, spitting it aside, though Twilight was quick to recover it.

One hand under her chin, he tilted Star’s head backward, brushing her hair aside and resting the other on her face.

“Why does everyone keep tickling me!” She giggled as the felt tip pressed to her forehead.

There was no reply. Instead, he simply bent lower, taking either breast in hand, though now holding them steady rather than pawing at them while dragging his marker along his admittedly rather large canvases.

“That should do it.”

He spun Starlight so that Applejack could see his revolting handiwork, somehow seeming to find pride in his degeneracy. Bright, sparkling silver ink had scrawled the words ‘On Sale!’ across her forehead, the number ‘50’ on one breast and ‘bits’ on the other.

“How do I look?” She asked, as Applejack sat agape.

“Don’t ask her that!” He shouted playfully, spanking one of her breasts and pushing her out of Applejack’s view. “Does she look like she has any bits to you?”

His fingers snapped as he continued to steer Starlight from Applejack’s view. Twilight, perked up slightly at the sound, stepping behind and then underneath the white sheet, dredging up yet another ominous feeling within Applejack’s core.

“Now, I want you to go out there and be the best big boobed bimbo you can be! And if you do well, your reward will be waiting for you when you get back, alright?”

Once again, the door clicked open.

“You can count on me, Mister Flim!!”

Then, it closed.

“Make sure to mark her down ten bits an hour from now.” He said, joining Twilight on the other side of the obscured contraption.

“Yes, Sir.”

“And with everyone else out there, making me money, I guess that just leaves you!”

“If you think for one second yer’ gonna’ get me t’go out there-“

“I like your ambition!” He replied, stepping in front of the white sheet and grabbing it by its hem. “But making it out there isn’t as simple as just cramming you into one of our fabulous uniforms! It takes work, dedication, and a bunch of time in front of-“

A dramatic flourish saw the white cover thrown from the large machine, making it wholly visible, or as close as could be expected in the darkness, to Applejack for the first time.

“The Magnificent Mega Mind Melter 7000™"

Fully in view, the machine laid bare before her was perhaps the least surprising thing Applejack had seen since she had awoken. Though the grating reveal was still agony on her aching head, the machine itself did little to impress.

“Seven-thousand tries an’ this is the best y’could do?”

He chuckled and fell to his knees while Twilight continued to adjust knobs and dials.

“I'll forgive that remark because I know you’re a little nervous about joining our team, but I want you to know that, I am a consummate professional.”

His hands ran up and down along her muscular thighs, leaving her to only wish she could crawl out of her skin. “This is going to be quick and painless, that’s a Flim-Flam Brothers Guarantee™.”

He bounced back to his feet and strode over to the ramshackle looking device, apparently unbothered by the duct tape that held the scrap metal together. Instead, his only concern seemed to be with the large, white and black disk that sat on its front, taking a moment to wipe it clean with the cloth before moving aside.

Between that, and the enormous array of lights that flanked it, the whole thing looked as if it would be more at home in one of Spike’s comic books than in her current predicament. Yet, considering her circumstances, Applejack knew better than to underestimate it.

“Just sit back and relax, this will be over before you know it.”

A thrust of his arm forced a large lever forward and Applejack gritted her teeth in anticipation. Expecting the worst, she braced herself as the contraption came to life, the creaking of metal and grinding of gears overtaking the dull and distant sound of music.

But there was nothing.

Had the large plate not begun to lazily turn in one direction, and the lights to blink randomly, she would have been sure that it had broken down entirely.

Her eyes darted from the machine to Twilight, then to Flim, searching their faces for disappointment, for anticipation, for some sign of what was to come.

“HA! An’ I thought yew’ two were bad at yer’ jobs before! That last machine’a yer’s made some piss-poor cider, but at least it worked!”

There was no response, no change in affect between them, the same awful grin on one, the same expressionless mask on the other. Back to the machine, she looked more closely, the lethargic turning of the plate gradually gaining momentum, the black forming a spiral as it went.

“Yew’ almost had me scared there for’a second!” Her eyes lingered on it a bit longer this time, still trying to deduce its purpose, before returning to the pair behind it. Silence was, once again, their only reply, and Applejack’s focus again returned to the machine, this time to the lights that continued to chaotically flicker.

As much as she enjoyed the knowledge that their grand machine was little more than a glorified lamp, it hardly changed her situation. She still needed to find a way out of this. No matter how poor their craftmanship, they had somehow managed to gain power over her brother, her friends, and half the town.

Knowing how was second only to finding a way out, but any extra time to do either was more than welcome.

“Think ya’ might wanna’ take five?” She asked, eyes now darting from one light to the next, trying to track their pattern. “Maybe try unpluggin’ it and pluggin’ back it, that usually helps!”

Charting their path took her back over the plate, still spinning away, occasionally holding her focus for just a moment before she returned to chasing them down.

“Or try hittin’ it with’a-“

Suddenly, all of the lights came to life at once, unleashing a flash of light that engulfed the room and turned everything to white. Starbursts filled her vision, and her head swam in a sea of white, her thoughts receding like shadows until, for the briefest moment, her mind felt utterly clear.

“Try hitting it with what?” She heard Flim’s voice ask from some great distance away.

“Wha – what was I…?”

“Finish your thought. You were saying something about my machine.”

Still half blind, her eyes found blurry outlines of the pair standing ahead of her. They looked to her as if they were kilometres away, like shadows on the horizon, and it took all of her concentration merely to bring them back into view.

“Maybe you’re right, maybe it is broken.” He replied. “If you had a headache, it should be getting better, not worse.”

For the first time since this ordeal had begun, Applejack gave something halfway to a smile, though it quickly faltered as she once more looked to Flim, and saw his own, still fixed and full.

She felt as if she were missing something as her eyes were drawn back to the machine, to the blinking slights and swirling plate, both now faster than she had realised.

The fact that it was broken would buy her time, but she still needed to know how it worked. Though far from mechanically inclined, she found herself studying every aspect of it as it went, looking for-

Another flash stopped her thoughts in their tracks, her eyes feeling the full onslaught of the lights. Everything was further now, not just the room, but even her body. The cool metal of the chair, the thrumming of her heart in her chest, it all felt distant, more like akin to a memory than to the here and now.

“How was that?”

“Huh – how wuh- was wut?” She slurred, trying to find her way back to dark room from her bright, white expanse.

“Your head feels better now, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah – Ah’ – Ah’ guess it does…”

Though her headache was better, it had been replaced by an encroaching fog that made tracking the lights impossible. Their pace was far faster, and their positions even more unpredictable. Just trying to keep track was exhausting, and so, instead, her focus shifted to the spiral.

"I bet you feel much better now."

“But – but that doesn’t mean it’s working.”

“Of course not! If it were really working you’d feel-“

Another flash of light sent her mind reeling ever further from where she had been. The sights, the sounds, the sensations, all the things that had been her guide back were now fainter than ever, so much so that she could only catch them as fragments.

“—warm and fuzzy—"

Struggling to work her way back, she found her progress slowing with each passing moment. The closer she got, the clearer her view of it.

“—————totally empty.”

That whirlpool of black and white that filled her vision, dragging her from its edges into its centre where she remained until the light pushed her further away.

“———orientation———”

Try as she might, she could never seem to get closer.

“——————start tomorrow——————”

The further away she found herself, the harder it was to recall why she was even trying.

“—————too good————won’t resist.”

It felt so much better, wherever she was.

“———whatever she says.”

Perhaps she could stay, just for a little while.

“Forget——————”

She would find her way back eventually.

“——————only when you hear——————”

When it was time.

“—————————”

Until then, she could just stay here and watch the spiral.

“—————————”

And remain in the light.

Author's Note

Hey! Whatd'ya know! It's back!...kinda'

I sure do hope this qualifies as one of those 'good things' that's supposed to come to 'those who wait', but I wouldn't bet on it.

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!

Also: Consider checking out this webcomic I like. I am in no way affiliated with it, I just think it's neat and wish it had more readers ¯\_ (ツ)_/¯